1799, July 25 – 1800, January 6: (The Siege of Port-de-Paix and Jacmel): On July 25, 1799, Toussaint Louverture broke the siege at Port-de-Paix where Maurepa…

1799, July 25 – 1800, January 6: (The Siege of Port-de-Paix and Jacmel): On July 25, 1799, Toussaint Louverture broke the siege at Port-de-Paix where Maurepas had resisted stoutly, subsequently marching across the mountains to Bombardopolis. After pacifying the Northwest, battle was joined in the South where Toussaint’s force of 30,000 faced Rigaud’s elite army of 2,500. Rigaud’s forces, seasoned by fighting the English and supported by mountain marrons, defended Jacmel against a tightening grip by Dessalines and Christophe. By January 6, 1800, Toussaint assumed command, capturing Grand Fort and Talavigne to bombard the ruined town while the garrison inside was reduced to eating dogs, rats, and lizards. The siege was further tightened by a U.S. Navy blockade that sank Rigaud’s reinforcement ships.