Bergerac-Trichet carries the fortified hillock of La Sourde in the North; he is forced to leave it and entrenches near Banica until 2 April.

On 1 January 1809 Bergerac-Trichet, an officer of proven bravery, whom we have seen in the South take up arms among the first against the French, carried by main force the fortified hillock called la Sourde (1). This hillock is almost opposite a village known today under the name of Ranquitte (2), and lies only six leagues from la Grande-Rivière and twelve from the Cap.

Bergerac, instead of continuing his military thrust, ordered a camp to be made and dispatched an envoy under a flag of truce to Martial-Besse, commandant for Christophe at la Grande-Rivière: a course of conduct that was to be fatal to him!

Besse was for a moment undecided as to the course he should take: had he declared for the Republic, it was all over with Christophe. He would have rendered his country an immense service and won the gratitude of his fellow citizens of all classes and of all parts of the island. But unhappily he lacked confidence in himself. Joachim Deschamps, with 300 men and two 4-pounders, had time to leave the Cap and fall upon Bergerac. The fanatical pride of the populations of the North against those of the rest of the island, skillfully excited, was carried to its paroxysm. Bergerac now had to measure himself against the whole population risen en masse to repel him, and no longer against soldiers like himself. He was therefore obliged to evacuate la Sourde. But as he had orders to maintain himself at any price on enemy territory, he went and entrenched himself on the banks of the Artibonite, near Banica. It was only on 2 April that he abandoned this new position before superior forces. Passing by the valley of San-Thome and by Neyba, he returned to Port-au-Prince.