The New York Gazette of Wednesday contains the following: - Capt. Berwick, arrived here on 15 days from Port-au-Prince, informs, that on the first of December, the brigands (1) attacked Cape Français, when a severe and bloody engagement took place between them and the French troops under General Rochambeau, in which a great number of the former were killed. The contest however terminated in the surrender of the Cape to the brigands (2), agreeably to propositions made by Dessalines, their commander. By these terms, it appears, that Rochambeau was made prisoner of war, who, with his troops were to be subject to the disposal of the commander of the British squadron then blockading the Cape."
Another paper says, " General Rochambeau and suite, with an immense quantity of specie, had obtained conveyance in a British frigate, to Jamaica.
"Port-au-Prince continued tranquil, but many of the inhabitants had left it.
"Cape Môle Nicolas had not been evacuated on the 4th. December. When Capt. Selby passed it, he heard a tremendous cannonading, and supposes an attack had been made upon it by the brigands (3); in which case, it would not in all probability hold out more than 5 or 6 days.
"Off Jeremie were several French cruisers, who captured all American vessels bound to places occupied by the brigands (4). The British frigate Tartar had been sent against them."
Mr. Dawson, who arrived here on Wednesday in the brig Aurora from Port-au-Prince, has furnished us with the following information, in addition to that given in the last number of the New York Mercantile Advertiser:
"Agreeably to advice received at Port-au-Prince from General Dessalines, he had on the 22nd ult. attacked Cape Français with all the active force he could raise, said to amount from 20 to 25,000 men. The descent was affected from Morne-du-Cap. -After having passed the outlines and several of the blockhouses, an action ensued between the troops of Dessalines and Rochambeau, which continued eleven hours with the greatest obstinacy, when general Rochambeau was under the necessity of capitulating for the evacuation of the Cape on the first instant. All the troops posted at the blockhouses between Barrière Bouteille and Haut-du-Cap (the outposts) were massacred, as all possibility of escape to the town was cut off.
Agreeably to the capitulation, Rochambeau with the army under his command were to be embarked under the protection of the British cruising fleet.
When Dessalines left Port-au-Prince, he nominated Alexandre Sabes Pétion (5) (a mulatto) General of Brigade and Commandant of the place in his absence.
"The people of color, particularly the women, experienced the cruelest treatment; having been put to labor on the public works with negro women to superintend them.
The American vessels with provisions were compelled to part with them to the Government and were promised payment in coffee at three and four months.
"Dessalines had given assurances of respect and protection to the American merchants residing at Port-au-Prince, which he had partially observed while Mr. Dawson was there. His officers, however, acted as they thought proper.
"Dessalines is proclaimed captain-general of the colony; Clairveaux, Christophe, Pétion, and several other mulattoes, are ranked as generals of division and brigade."
1,2,3,4 Haïtian Liberators
5 After Toussaint Louverture was arrested and taken to France, Dessalines outranked everyone in the indigenous Army.
Sam LeChiot for eMagazine
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