The squadrons of Rochefort, Brest and Lorient weighed anchor and rallied at Cape Samana.

The squadrons of Rochefort, of Brest and of Lorient weighed anchor on 23 frimaire (14 December); they rallied for the third time at Cape Samana, at the head of the island of Saint-Domingue. Leclerc sent two frigates, the Fraternité and the Précieuse, with a small body of troops under the orders of Kerverseau, against Santo-Domingo, where Paul-L’Ouverture commanded with the 40th demi-brigade. The rest of the army was divided into three divisions: that of the right, commanded by General Boudet, marched on Port-Républicain; that of the left, under the orders of General Rochambeau, on Fort-Liberté; and that of the center, with General Hardy, on the Cap.