Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-11-25
Gtstortcol
From the .NeW York Evangelist,
The lnSurrecliOn in st, Domingo, No, F.;
BY REV, J. s. C. ABBOTT.

1t is a noticeable fact that the heroic struggle
by which the inhabitants of St Domingo achiey-
ed their freedom and independence, is ever term
ed an Instruction. A nation consisting of but
about five hundred thousand souls, unversed in
war and Just emerging from Barbarism, successful
ly maintaining the conflict with the thirty millions
of France, and comes off victorious. History
has few more noble deeds to record and yet his
tory most ungenerously is either afraid or asham-
ed to record them In every war there are
atrocities committed at which humanity shoulders,
and it was so in this, Still never did man have
a more Just cause for war, than the Slaves in St.
Domingo; and in their magnanimous struggle
against the more fearful odds, God helped them
to the victory.
The French, almost unresisted, effected a
landing upon the island with thrty-fve thousand
highly disciplined troops, and all the formidable
englnery of war Touissant conscious of his
utter inability to withstand the steel-clad vete-
rams, elated with their triumphs over combined
Europe, slowly retired before the invaders. He
left however behind him but sheet of flame
The conquerors, in their pursuit, marched over
the smouIdering ruins of cities, villages and plan
tations, capturing but desert, smoking like a
volcano AT every rivers side and every noun
tain pass Toulssant, with the energies of de-
spair, assailed these emsaries of slavery and
disputmg thus every inch of ground, slowly re-
tired before their reslstless numbers The French
soon obtained possession of the whole seacoast
and the heroic little band, preferring starvation
and death to slavery, were criven back into the
wild interior, where they were in some degree
sheltered from pursuit in dense and tangled for
ests, and in the inaccessible Businesses of the
mountains. 1t was impossible for the French to
penetrate these savage regions with their cavalry
or to drag their artillery through these painless
Wlds. Here Touissant, with ndomitable cour-
age and perseverance, took his last stand for the
freedom Of his race The negroes knew their
doom, for the decision Of the French Government
to re-cstabsh slavery throughout the whole island
had been publicly proclaimed, and their ress-
lance was so unexpectedly formidable, that it
was soon found necessary to send from France a
reinforcement Of SIX thousand men, to aid in this
mcouest and most Iguobc Of all earthly work
the enssycmont of free.
4 lie CIcrc, the commandments of the
/ French army, now surrounded the negroes in
! their Businesses, and assailed them in concen-
trated attack from all quarters. This was on the
10Th of February, 1902. A most desperate and
DIppuJ COillllCJ ClSuGu, WHICH continued lOf ma
ny weeks. The French we're amazed at the
bravery OF the negroes, and though from superior
numbers, armament and discipline, victorious at
all points, their loss was enormous At the con-
fuence OF two little streams among the noun
tans, there were the remains of an old stone fort
A little band of retreating blacks took refuge
behind its crumbling walls. Two brigades OF
the French army marched confidently up to sweep
them away by coup de MAN. But they were
soon compelled to retreat before the vigor of the
fire of these unconquered heroes, leaving behind
them seven hundred of their comrades bleeding
in DEATH LIE Clerc concentrated all his dispos
able forces, and made another attack with the
most determined fury upon this Haytien Their
moppylG, Calmly the brave hearts throbbing
behind those walls, met the onset, and again re-
pulsed their swarming foes cut their way through
them and escaped, having for three weeks arres
ted the whole French army, by the barrier of in
domitabe hearts. The blacks defeated but unsub
dued, retreated from point to point, making
stand wherever there was any opportunity fol
successful resistance, LIE Clerc, finding it al
most impossible, with his European troops tc
force his way through these de6les, where from
thousand unseen hands murderous fire pickec
f off his men, had recourse to the most infamous
/ stratagem in order to accomplish his purpose
f Touissant as Governor of ST. Domingo, con
: frmed in the command by the decree of Napole
on, and all unconscious of any anticipated inva
sion of the island by the French, had sent hi
two little boys, whom he loved with the most in
tense affection, to Paris, to be educated. Thes
lads were most treacherously sent back from
France as prisoners to be held by lie Clerc, a
: the means of coercing the noble father, through
his parental affection, to submission or to treason
f Taking these hostages so ingloriously obtained
f LIE CIerc sought an interview with Touissant, il
y his retreat among the mountains. AS the Iitt
d boys after their long absence, were led int
e the presence of their parents, the affectionat
# mother, with a flood of tears and burstin,
e heart, clasped them to her bosom. The firmnes
p of Touissant was shaken, as he once again
: EMBODIED in his arms, his long lost children
If whom he loved with far more than ordinary pa
d rental affection. LIE Clerc urged upon him tn
If Infamous proposal, that if he would abandon tn
r struggle and surrender his race again to slavery
d his sons should be restored to him, and that h
IF should be invested with wealth and rank and pow
er. 1t was indeed, in TINT day Of darkness and de