Le Cap. Taken over by the Indigenous; Christophe named commander of the arrondissement.

The Indigenous took possession of Le Cap on 7 frimaire, Year 12. During the day there were great festivities, and perfect order reigned. Soldiers, women and children went through the streets singing hymns of liberty. Proclamations again promised aid and protection to the white planters, merchants and workmen who had not followed the French army. They came and prostrated themselves at the feet of the general-in-chief whom they had called a brigand the day before, and offered ardent prayers for the happiness of his days. They called him Jean-Jacques the Good. Dessalines did indeed receive them like a father of a family; but as soon as they withdrew, his brow took on a menacing expression. The members of the council of notables, the ordonnateur Perroud and several white families nevertheless embarked, putting no faith in his promises. General Christophe was at once named commander of the arrondissement of Le Cap. He learned that the French had shipped off the archives of the court registry; he at once informed Dessalines, who wrote to Rochambeau that he must put them ashore again, since they belonged to the town of Le Cap. This was done on the spot. *