At Cap-Français General Galbaud espoused the interests of...
< Previous | Home | Next >
Reply to Msg 8981
At Cap-Français General Galbaud espoused the interests of the colonists and were were plotting against the new commisioners.
Sonthonax and Polverel arrived in town with a battalion of Mulattoes men, with Antoine Chanlatte in command.
They were sufficiently powerful to order General Galband to immediately leave the island and sail for France (June 13).
However General Galbaud raised a rebellion among the crew of the men-of-war; and on June 20 he landed at Cap-Français at the head of 3,000 men. Antoine Chanlatte, gallantly supported by Jean-Baptiste Belley, a free black Afranchi, lost no time in going to the help of the Commissioners.
A bloody struggle occurred in the streets of Cap-Français (Cap Haitien.) Polverel and Sonthonax were compelled to abandon the town, which was left to the mercy of Galbaud's sailors.
On the 21st of June they retreated to Camp-Breda (Toussaint Breda Louverture camp.) Their situation seemed hopeless.
That very day they issued a decree promising full freedom to all the slaves who would take up arms for the cause of the French Republic, promising also that they would be considered the equals of the whites and would enjoy all the rights belonging to the French citizens.
As soon as this decree became known to them, all the blacks followers of Pierrot, Macaya, and Goa hastened to place themselves at the disposal of the representatives of the French Republic.
With a firm determination to earn their freedom, these slaves fiercely attacked the forces of Galbaud; owing to their assistance Cap-Français was stormed on June 23. The sailors had sacked and partly destroyed the unfortunate town by fire. The ill-fated island of Saint-Domingue(Haiti) continued thus to be devastated by fire and sword.
Instead of improving, the situation of the Civil Commissioners daily grew worse.
In February France was again at war with Great Britain; hostilities soon followed with Spain.
The representatives of France and Spain at Saint-Domingue were both instructed by their respective governments to SPARE NO PAINS, to resort even to the SLAVES, in order to conquer the territory of the other party.
The Governor of the Spanish portion of the island was already carrying out these instructions.
He had won over ***Jean-François, Masson, and Toussaint Louverture,*** whom he loaded with favors and honors.
Jean-François was appointed lieutenant-general of the forces of the King of Spain; Toussaint Louverture became major-general (marechal-de-camp).
"For the first time black slaves were to be seen bedecked with ribbons, crosses and other insignia of nobility." The political struggle of the mulattoes for their political rights would later become a battle for freedom and self-determination on the island of Haiti.
Luc, June 4 2008, 7:37 PM
Topic: MASSACRE DES MULATRES EN HAITI
Start a NEW topic or,
Jump to
previous | Next Topic >
< Previous | Home | Next >
Messages in this topic
< Previous | Home | Next >