1795–1796: (The Treaty of Basel and the Exit of Spain): On July 22, 1795, the Peace of Basel concluded the war between France and Spain, leading to the cessi…

1795–1796: (The Treaty of Basel and the Exit of Spain): On July 22, 1795, the Peace of Basel concluded the war between France and Spain, leading to the cession of the Spanish colony of Santo Domingo to the French Republic. This peace allowed Toussaint to consolidate his power as the armies of his rivals, Jean-François and Biassou, disbanded; Biassou eventually died in a brawl in Florida, while Jean-François retired to Cadiz. Now facing only the British, Toussaint was commissioned as a général de brigade and utilized his time to raise and train four new regiments while trading coffee and rum for gunpowder with American blockade-runners. Meanwhile, the British continued to suffer catastrophic losses to disease, with the 96th Foot reportedly perishing to a man by September 1796.