Pétion holds the Pont à Dessalines during Rigaud’s retreat

It is placed in the rural section of Dufour, on the boundary of the departments of the West and the South, 8 km from Petit-Goâve and 6 km from Miragoâne. Its circuit is estimated at 28 km counting its windings. Its depth is about 68 metres and even 100 metres. Its waters flow out to the north-northeast into the sea at the Acul de Carénage near Miragoâne, and serve the use of the neighboring inhabitants. One crosses this pond on a wooden bridge whose abutments are of stone. The poste militaire of Miragoâne (See this word) is on the shores of this pond. Formerly a project had been conceived to dig a canal that would lead from the Acul of Petit Goâve to the Etang for the transport of the produce of that district. On 3 May 1800, during the retreat of Rigaud’s army, Pétion stood up at the Pont to Dessalines, who forced the defile of the Sault through the mountains and went round the pond on the 16th. Pétion had to retreat on Miragoâne.

Rouzier tells this under the entry MIRAGOANE.