Amiens. Treaty between France and England concluded there

Before leaving for the Mornet, Toussaint heard Mass and took communion at La Marmelade. His soldiers, following his example, fulfilled their duties as Christians. They addressed fervent prayers to God for the happiness of their chief. At the first whitening of dawn the camp trumpets had sounded reveille; his whole guard had knelt, and the sky had rung with hymns to the Eternal. It was an imposing spectacle, a throng of warriors bowing their proud heads before the God of armies. Toussaint, who was a zealot, and who went to confession whenever his conscience was furrowed by some violent remorse, never neglected these religious ceremonies, which were celebrated in the camps and barracks. He left La Marmelade and reached the Mornet, where, contrary to his expectation, he did not find General Leclerc. He would not wait for him there; and despite the entreaties of Morisset and Gabart, who urged him not to trust too far to the good faith of the whites, he dashed off along the road to Le Cap, accompanied by these two officers, by Placide Louverture, by Isaac and by a company of dragoons. On the way he learned, from a letter Leclerc had addressed to him, that the treaty between France and England had been definitively concluded at Amiens on 25 March 1802. On one of the plateaus of the Mornet he found General Fressinet encamped at the head of some European troops and of the 10th colonial. The Black officers and officers of color of this demi-brigade welcomed him with the liveliest acclamations and told him how the French had entered Santo Domingo. He breakfasted with General Fressinet, who after the meal clasped him warmly in his arms. From there he went on to the Haut-du-Cap. He saw with astonishment Colonel Robillard, a young man, Christophe’s aide-de-camp, approaching him. As soon as this officer had spoken his general’s name, Toussaint said to him: “I never wish to hear that name.” Robillard saluted him respectfully and withdrew. Christophe’s submission, which he called a treason, filled him with horror; he regarded him as the author of the step he was now compelled to take. When he passed the post held by General Clervaux, the 6th colonial demi-brigade received him with enthusiasm. At last he entered Le Cap in triumph. He was saluted by numerous salvoes of artillery. The French gave free rein to a lively joy. The prestige of Toussaint’s power was destroyed. The submission he was bringing justified that of all his lieutenants. His partisans believed in the sincerity of his step; they were all discouraged, and none of them wished to be more devoted to Toussaint than Toussaint was to himself. Having been the all-powerful governor of the colony, he disdained, so it was claimed at the time, to become the chief of a band of partisans. He preferred to live in isolation while he awaited the favorable occasion to seize authority again.