Drouillard. Pierrot’s suite catches up with him there on his way to Le Cap.

Although the country was in the greatest tranquillity, President Pierrot was always expecting some rising in arms; he was persuaded that men were conspiring against his government; yet he had received the news that at Jérémie and at Les Cayes all had returned to order, so much so that General Frémont had just sent the national guards of the companies back to their homes.

One fine morning, while the inhabitants of Port-au-Prince were given over to their customary occupations, Pierrot ordered the générale to be beaten. The population, full of anxiety at this ominous sound, ran to arms and gathered in a body on the Place Pétion. All the doors of the warehouses and the doors of the shops were shut. Pierrot admired the national guard and said that it was numerous, imposing and well armed, but that it was a danger to him, for it inspired in him no confidence; some officers from the North advised him to disband it, but he refused.(w)

The next day, at nine in the morning, President Pierrot went out of the Palace alone; the population saw him take the Grand’rue and make his way toward the Portail Saint-Joseph; it was thought he was making a round of the town. He passed through the gate, saying that he was going to Le Cap. No one had been told of his plan to depart. As soon as the news spread, the whole staff of the Palace, his aides-de-camp and his pack animals rushed after him, and for two hours nothing was to be seen but officers from the North galloping from every side to rejoin him.

He was met at Drouillard, whence he continued on for Le Cap. It was 19 May.