Le Cap. Proclamation of the war between France and England dated here.

Meanwhile the frigate Infatigable, out of Brest, came to anchor at Port-Républicain. She had made a crossing of 31 days. She brought Rochambeau the First Consul’s order to transfer the headquarters to Le Cap immediately. This news plunged the colonists of Port-Républicain into consternation. They saw clearly that the French government, recognizing the difficulty there would henceforth be in communicating with Saint-Domingue because of the war with England, which was inevitable, wished the headquarters to be established in a town of the island nearer the points of landfall than Port-Républicain. On the other hand, the departure of the captain-general was bound to weaken the troops of the West by more than half, at a moment when that department was threatened by most of the forces of the independents of the Artibonite and of the Arcahaie. Rochambeau embarked for Le Cap toward the end of June, after sending General Sarrasin the order to come and take command of Port-Républicain, and after dispatching General Fressinet to Jérémie. Until Sarrasin arrived, Lavalette commanded the arrondissement, and Panis, adjudant-general, the town of Port-Républicain.

The Indigenous of the mornes of Jérémie fought the French with the utmost fury. They attacked Camp Ivonet, which European troops occupied, with impetuosity, and made themselves masters of it. Colonel Berger, who commanded the town of Jérémie, marched out against them on 23 June at the head of 600 men. He fell upon the enemy unawares and broke into the entrenched camp. There was great carnage. Berger was struck down by a saber cut to the head. The Indigenous nevertheless gave way, and were put to the sword in great numbers. This success profited the French only in that it delayed the fall of Jérémie. It did not shake the power of the insurgents of the Grand’Anse.

A few days after Rochambeau reached Le Cap, an English squadron of four ships of the line and several frigates came on 4 July to take station before that town. At the same time the English were blockading Port-Républicain and Les Cayes. Rochambeau no longer doubted that war existed between France and England, for the squadron of H. B. M. was committing hostilities along the coast. He at once declared Saint-Domingue in a state of siege, and the next day, 5 July, he decreed that flour, biscuit, rice and salted provisions of every kind would be admitted for import free of all duties, and that this exemption would last for the whole duration of the war. By the following proclamation he announced the war between France and England, which had begun as early as May 1803.

Headquarters, Le Cap, 20 Messidor, Year Eleven (9 July 1803).

The existence of war between France and England can no longer be doubted; the English navy has committed, and daily commits, hostilities on our coasts; it has attacked and fought the ships of the Republic, and its squadrons are blockading our ports. This circumstance, whose outcome will doubtless be glorious for France, seems to throw Saint-Domingue into a state of crisis; but the army, whose courage and resignation have withstood so many trials, will not be dismayed by this new obstacle; it will be for the army only one more means of adding to its glory, and should it perish entirely in the double struggle now opening before its efforts, it will know how, if need be, to sacrifice itself to the great interests of the mother country. The government promises us aid of every kind, and when its intention is known to us, however great the difficulties may be, let us not doubt its effects. The general-in-chief has already taken the measures necessary for the external defense of the country and to secure the subsistence of the army and the inhabitants. To procure the unity of action indispensable in difficult times, the colony has been declared in a state of siege. Instructions suited to the circumstances have been sent to all the division generals. The import of foodstuffs has been freed of all duties, and all the ports of the colony have been opened to foreign commerce. Orders have been given for the planting of the country’s provisions on all the lands occupied by our troops. A new organization is being carried out; the simplicity of its composition and the choice of its members guarantee its integrity, its activity, its foresight and its solicitude for the army. The general-in-chief knows how to value the privations his companions in arms have already endured; they may yet increase; but he counts no less on their constancy and on their unshakable firmness at the post assigned to us by the First Consul. He relies equally on the fidelity and devotion of the inhabitants, and he expects, from a close concert, everything that may contribute to the preservation of the territory and to the luster of the French name. Signed: Donatien Rochambeau.