Grand Fort (Port-de-Paix). Seized by Rébecca with two battalions of the 9th, who fire on the town and then abandon it

General Guillaume, who likewise put Christophe’s orders rigorously into practice, commanded the arrondissement of Port-de-Paix. The troops, whom he often ill-treated, had come to execrate him. On the thirteenth of May all the soldiers and noncommissioned officers of the 9th, stirred up by Rébecca, demanded of him with threats three gourdes per review instead of two. General Guillaume refused. A few hours later the soldiers, led by Rébecca, who kept insubordination alive among them, invaded the government palace and searched in vain for the general to cut off his head: he had hidden at the approach of the mutineers. After remaining shut away for several days, he learned that the agitation had subsided; he then came back to occupy the government palace, reviewed the troops (17 May) and had three gourdes given to each soldier. Immediately after the review the troops hooted him and proclaimed the insurrection with cries of Long live President Pétion! Long live the Republic! They put the grenadier Rébecca at their head and conferred on him the right to exercise supreme authority. Rébecca was preparing to have General Guillaume arrested when the latter took flight and made his way toward Le Cap. The same day, pursuing his plan, Rébecca drove out of the corps, without doing them any violence, all the officers who formed its staff, seized the Grand Fort at the head of the 1st and 2nd battalions of the 9th, fired round shot on the town, then abandoned the fortification after carrying off all its munitions, and threw himself onto the road of the Trois-Rivières, then onto that of Le Gros-Morne. After passing through the Aubert plantation, he went to entrench himself in the fort of the Trois Pavillons and at once sent dispatches to President Pétion asking for prompt assistance.