A French force of 1,400 troops in four warships, under the command of American Colonel William Tate landed on 22 February 1797 at Carregwastad Head. Diagrams of first and third rate warships, England, 1728 Cyclopaedia. ... Colonel William Tate was the American commander of the French forces which invaded Britain in 1797. ... February 22 is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1797 (MDCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Their aim was to start an uprising against the English and march onwards to Bristol and London. The initial plan was to land near Bristol but adverse weather and tides forced the fleet to turn around and attempt a landing on the coast of Wales. On their way through the Bristol channel the fleet was spotted from Ilfracombe. The fleet was spotted off the coast of Pembrokeshire and attempted to enter Fishguard harbour. A single shot from the cannons at Fishguard fort was all that was needed to turn the fleet around. Had the Tate known that this was almost their last round the out come could have been very different. Location within the British Isles Ilfracombe is a seaside resort on the north coast of Devon, England with a small harbour, surrounded by cliffs. ...

Many of the French troops were conscripted prisoners and dicipline and morale were low. Although the invasion initially started without any problems it soon lost momentum and was concluded with little harm done on either side - a few fatalities and some looting. Looting (which derives via the Hindi lut from Sanskrit lunt, to rob), sacking, or plundering is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe or riot, such as during war [1], natural disaster [2], rioting [3], or terrorist attack...

The surrender took place on 25 February, signed in the Royal Oak pub in Fishguard and conducted on Goodwick sands. February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

The local heroine of the invasion was Jemima Nicholas, who with her pitchfork single-handedly rounded up 12 invaders.

External links

• www.historic-uk.com