Poste Marchand. Assailed in vain by one of Christophe’s columns

On 6 January, at three in the morning, Christophe delivered a general assault on the town. At Fort Saint-Joseph, on the north, the enemy was vigorously repulsed by Colonel Lamarre. The Poste Marchand, on the east, near the Intendance, was assailed by a column that made vain efforts to seize it. The soldiers of the 12th, who held Fort National, asked leave to go and take that column in the flank. But Battalion Commander Frédéric, who also expected to be attacked, forbade them on pain of death to leave the fort. Indeed, almost at the same moment the charge was heard there: it was a division of Christophe’s, commanded by General J. P. Daut, coming forward to carry the fortification. It was met by the most murderous fire and driven back with considerable loss. The soldiers of the 12th hooted at the troops of the North. These, ashamed, returned to the charge; but they were overthrown once more.