The Mirebalais. Falls to the Spanish after Bauvais’s resistance; Despinville commands.

Almost at the same time (8 January) Le Mirebalais fell into the power of the Spanish. General Bauvais abandoned the place only after an hour of murderous fighting. He withdrew to the Croix-des-Bouquets; and M. Despinville took command at Le Mirebalais for the King of Spain. A month later the English seized Tiburon, from which they had been driven back a first time. The town, armed with twenty-two pieces of cannon, was defended by 500 republicans, Black men and men of color, under the orders of Dartiguenave. On 2 February in the evening the English squadron anchored in the roadstead, while the Black chasseurs of Jean Kina entrenched themselves at Les Irois to secure a retreat for the English in case they should meet with a check. At daybreak on the 3rd the ships swept the shore with several broadsides; the European English troops, with Lieutenant-Colonel Spencer at their head, landed under the fire of the republicans, formed in line of battle, marched against them, cut them to pieces and carried Tiburon. Spencer took a hundred and fifty prisoners and found the town’s arsenal stocked with powder. According to the English bulletins, they counted only three men killed and eleven wounded.