Môle Saint-Nicolas. Stormed by Capoix’s Independents; French rallied and drove them off

Meanwhile Capoix, master of Port-de-Paix since Brunet’s evacuation of the town, had completely reorganized the 9th, formerly colonial. He sent one of his lieutenants at the head of one of the battalions of that corps to attack the Môle Saint-Nicolas, whose garrison consisted of the 11th light and the 49th and 98th of the line. The Indigenous camped at the gates of the town. The French made several sorties against them, but were always driven back into the place after suffering considerable losses. On 27 brumaire (18 November) the Independents stormed the town. The French troops, overthrown on the ramparts, were pursued into the heart of the place. The white townsmen, seized with fright, crowded on board the American ship Penelope, anchored in the roadstead, followed by three officers of the garrison. The captain of the vessel refused to sail. Then the three officers, who belonged to the 49th, the 98th and the 11th, distracted by terror, put a pistol to the American’s throat, mistreated the sailors and forced them to set sail for Port-Républicain. The Indigenous, for their part, had halted, astonished at their own daring. Their small number restored the morale of the French, who, withdrawn into the forts, swept them with grapeshot and forced them to retreat. After cutting off all communication between the town and the countryside by a regular blockade, the Independents remained camped a league from the Môle. Rochambeau was violently indignant when he learned what had happened at the Môle. He cashiered for cowardice the three officers who had abandoned their brothers in arms, named Delore, Stephonopoli and Girardeau, and had them arrested and shipped to France.