Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-29
DEFEAT OF HIS EBONY MAJESTY
SOULOUQUE.


but odorous Soulouque, has met with a defeat
at the hands OF the Dominicsns, which, no
doubt, will alarm all negrodom and penetrate
with grief and modification the Utmost hearts
of sympathising abotionists.
AS is known to our readers, that ambitious
buck negro Soulouque, who for some years has
been at the head of the Haytians, has ambi-
tiously sought to reduce into subsection, or,
that falling, to crush out his more civilized and
enlightened neighbors, the Dominicans, who
have growing and prosperous Republic right
under the fat nose of his sable majesty.
Like all monarchs, whether black or white,
Soulouqne abhors the very name of Republic,
and he has employed both treachery and force
to break down the Dominican Government.
lie lately marched with an army of 10000
| against the Domincaus, intending 10 over
| whelm and crush them. How he succeeded,
the following viii relate:
From Mirabeas, a detachment OF about
four thousand was ordered to take a southern
road, with few provisions, and TO rejoin the
Emperor near Aqua. All we know OF them
further is, that soon after crossing the lines they
were met BY body OF Dominicans, when the
regiment Of janet, which was in advance,
| broke at the first fire, and precipitated them
selves on the rear, which caused general rout.
They were commanded by old General Carat,
Of this place, said TO be the best cavalry officer
| in the army who with several of his officers,
was killed on the spot The troops have gone
where they please But the great misfortune
was with the main body under the Emperor,
consisting Of about eighteen thousand men,
which took the road to Las Caobas. When
near this place, in an open field, but near
| piece of woods, they came upon body OF Do
| mnicans Of ahout four hundred men. with
| cannon.
"The order Of march on the Emperors troops
at this time was as follows: The advanced
| guard was commanded by General Valentine,
| Ia Dominican refugee) with old General Thir
longe, Of Port au Prince, on the right, and the
Aux Cages troops on the left, in all about 1000
men. In the rear of these came the Emperor's
elite, with the Emperor in person, his staff, all
| his ministers, his treasure. chest-after these
came the main body. The advanced guard
continued to move forward until within gunshot
Of the Domincans, when they made halt
and cried Vive LEmpereurr several times,
and were so often answered by the Domincians;
to know. The Dominican commander then
advanced in front Of his troops, and Valentine
did the same to meet him. After talking some
time, what they said is not known,) they
separated, each returning TO his troops, but on
the way the Dominican fired his pistol when
| the Aux Caves troops commenced firing, with,
out orders, on the Dominicans, who returned
i the fire.
IAN officer of the Aux Cages regiment, whose
name / forget, but the same who shot those
prisoners in prison at Aux Cages few years
| ago, then mounted horse, and called to the
troops to follow him-and they did so, with
rush, throwing themselves back on the main
body Of the Haytian army, which was at the
same time charged BY the Domcaus. A con-
siderable number Of Haytans we're killed, and
| Valentine and Thirlonge were both wounded
but escaped.
Meanwhile, the Aux Cages troops, throw
| ing away their guns and baggage, continued
their retreat, turning and carrying along with
them other troops, until finally the greater part
Of the army had taken to fight, leaving the
Emperor and his staff almost alone. Valen.
tine and Thirlonge now came up, hard pushed
| by the Dominicians, when they and the En-
peror and all with him took into by path, and
| finally succeeded in getting clear off through
| But the old man ran narrow chance. They
were once within few feet Of him, and he was
only saved BY Thirlonge and other officers Of
his staff, several Of whom lost their lives"
"The Domnicans pursued the retreating
Haytians some miles, until they we're finally
checked and driven back by the Garde Ma
tionale of Port au Prince, commanded by
Robert Gateau, the auctioneer.
The army has lost everything. The Empe
ror is said TO have had with him, in his
treasure-chest, $3,0O0,000 in currency, and
| $4,000 Spanish. All this is lost, with the
guns, ammunition and provisions, and other
baggage and money. The retreating troops
have thrown away their arms. The Emperor
is said TO have reached Bonheur, small place
some sixty miles from the Cape, with about a
thousand men. The Aux Cayes troops, with
some others, have arrived back at Los Caobas,
to the number of 1900. The Emperor has
sent them orders to join him at Bonheur, which
they have refused to do. Whether he will
march against them, or they against him, does
not yet seem to be settled. Where the rest Of
the grand army is, no one knows but them
selves"