DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0229
ACCOUNT OF TOUSSAINT l’oUVERTURE. 199
at length arrived, and it might be supposed perhaps that the
first step of General Leclerc was to send notice of his arrival
to the lawful governor of the island, whom he was sent to
succeed, and demand peaceable possession of the town and
forts in which he meant to quarter his forces. No; General
Leclerc went to work exactly like an invading enemy in
time of war, though he had the modesty afterwards to com-
plain, that he was not received as a friend. The moment
he saw the coast of St. Domingo, he broke his force in three
divisions, which fell like a sky-rocket, as nearly as possible
at the same time, on the three principal towns of the island.
Nothing could be better contrived.
At Fort Dauphin, where General Rochambeau arrived
with the first division of the army before the two others
could get round to their points of attack, the troops were in-
stantly landed. No summons was sent to give the poor
wandering colonists a chance of saving their lives by sub-
mission. The troops were drawn up in battle array on the
beach. The Negroes ran down in crowds to behold so
strange a sight, and before they had any notice of what was
designed against them, they were charged with the bayonet,
and routed, with the loss of many innocent lives.
While by such means possession was obtained of Fort
Dauphin, the main body of the fleet and army under Villaret
and Leclerc, were hastening round to the Cape. They ar-
rived the next day, and instantly prepared to land and take
possession of Cape Francois; but Christophe, the black
general, who commanded at this important post, having
heard, no doubt, of the massacre at Fort Dauphin, bravely
and loyally refused to suffer them to enter the harbour until
he should receive orders from Toussaint.
The French however resolved to profit by Toussaint’s
absence, and therefore landed the troops by force, under
cover of the ships, at the expence not only of many lives,
but of the destruction of the town; for Christophe, finding
at length arrived, and it might be supposed perhaps that the
first step of General Leclerc was to send notice of his arrival
to the lawful governor of the island, whom he was sent to
succeed, and demand peaceable possession of the town and
forts in which he meant to quarter his forces. No; General
Leclerc went to work exactly like an invading enemy in
time of war, though he had the modesty afterwards to com-
plain, that he was not received as a friend. The moment
he saw the coast of St. Domingo, he broke his force in three
divisions, which fell like a sky-rocket, as nearly as possible
at the same time, on the three principal towns of the island.
Nothing could be better contrived.
At Fort Dauphin, where General Rochambeau arrived
with the first division of the army before the two others
could get round to their points of attack, the troops were in-
stantly landed. No summons was sent to give the poor
wandering colonists a chance of saving their lives by sub-
mission. The troops were drawn up in battle array on the
beach. The Negroes ran down in crowds to behold so
strange a sight, and before they had any notice of what was
designed against them, they were charged with the bayonet,
and routed, with the loss of many innocent lives.
While by such means possession was obtained of Fort
Dauphin, the main body of the fleet and army under Villaret
and Leclerc, were hastening round to the Cape. They ar-
rived the next day, and instantly prepared to land and take
possession of Cape Francois; but Christophe, the black
general, who commanded at this important post, having
heard, no doubt, of the massacre at Fort Dauphin, bravely
and loyally refused to suffer them to enter the harbour until
he should receive orders from Toussaint.
The French however resolved to profit by Toussaint’s
absence, and therefore landed the troops by force, under
cover of the ships, at the expence not only of many lives,
but of the destruction of the town; for Christophe, finding