1795-Aug.-12: The British occupation of Saint-Domingue faced a strategic crisis as yellow fever and relentless guerrilla warfare decimated the ranks of Europ…

1795-Aug.-12: The British occupation of Saint-Domingue faced a strategic crisis as yellow fever and relentless guerrilla warfare decimated the ranks of European soldiers. In response, British commanders began the controversial practice of enlisting enslaved men into “West India Regiments,” promising them freedom in exchange for service against the black revolutionaries. This policy effectively created a class of “Slaves in Red Coats” who were tasked with defending a system of slavery they themselves were partially escaping. The contradictions of this policy were noted by contemporary observers who feared the regiments would eventually join the insurgents. This development highlighted the desperation of the British effort to annex the French colony.