Pétion, at Fort Saint-Gilles, sighted admiral Missiessy’s squadron, and Dessalines raised the siege after twenty-two days.

The Emperor had ordered artillery to be embarked at Jacmel; but, in the meantime, it is with the bayonet of his soldiers, with the sword of his generals, that he means to carry the place. Already our lines press it, hem it in; despite three sorties, all is prepared for the escalade. But on 27 March Pétion, who occupied Fort Saint-Gilles, sends word to the Emperor that a fleet was in sight.

It was the squadron commanded by Admiral Missiessy, which had just ravaged and held to ransom the English Antilles.

Dessalines called all the generals to his quarters; was the squadron in sight not the vanguard of a more considerable fleet? Before conquering, was it not better to preserve?

General Ferrand advised the admiral to sail toward the south, so as to frighten and throw off Dessalines (1).

The siege was therefore raised after twenty-two days; the French declared that they had lost fifty-two men and had had only a hundred and thirteen wounded (2).