1793-Nov.-23: The Spanish governor in Santo Domingo received reports of the increasing military influence of Jean-François and Biassou, the leaders of the bl…

1793-Nov.-23: The Spanish governor in Santo Domingo received reports of the increasing military influence of Jean-François and Biassou, the leaders of the black insurgent armies. Julius S. Scott describes how these leaders effectively utilized the borderlands of the island to maneuver between the competing interests of France and Spain. Their armies were composed of thousands of formerly enslaved people who had demonstrated remarkable organizational skill and tactical awareness. The Spanish sought to co-opt these forces to undermine French Republican control, granting the black leaders high military ranks and honors. This period of the revolution showcased the complex diplomatic and military agency exercised by the formerly enslaved.