At Jacmel, grenadiers fire point-blank at David-Troy as general Magloire-Ambroise’s plot breaks into the open; David-Troy and Bonnet rally Fort Béliot and have Magloire arrested.

General Bonnet comes to review the troops as is customary. He then withdraws. The guard of the posts of the town is counted. But toward noon the conspirators learn of Magloire’s arrival at the gates of the town; a certain impatience shows itself in the ranks. David-Troy orders the regiment to return to its quarters to deposit its flags there, according to custom. It is followed; but at a short distance from the house, a backward movement is executed all at once without any order. David-Troy flings his horse impetuously toward the head of the column. The company of grenadiers of the 1st battalion, which had secretly loaded its arms, discharges them at him point-blank. Fortunately, no bullet has struck him. The intrepid brigade chief rushes toward the standard-bearer, tears his colors from him and makes for Fort Béliot, crying out: “Citizens! let the true friends of the fatherland follow me!”

The energy of the colonel strikes the conspirators with astonishment and respect. Even those who have just fired on him follow him to Fort Béliot, where he makes some promotions in the name of the Republic; he comes out of the fort again, having a field piece loaded with grapeshot dragged along; he comes and plants himself facing the 23rd, until then motionless with stupor.

The general alarm is heard. Bonnet comes running. The two senior officers go through the town inviting good citizens to rally at Fort Béliot, under pain of being declared traitors to the Republic and prosecuted criminally.

Then Magloire appears on the parade ground. Bonnet accosts him abruptly. His travel permit is demanded of him. The general, disconcerted, answers that in his capacity as commander of the department he had need of no permit to travel within the limits of his command, and that, moreover, he had come only on private business.

Bonnet orders David-Troy to arrest the general and have him taken to prison; an action which is accomplished without any obstacle; already the grenadiers who had fired on their chief had scattered over the countryside.