Gazette Of The United States, & Daily Advertiser

BALTIMORE, August 14.

Translated for the Federal Gazette.

Report of general Dessalines, commander in chief of the army of the West, against the rebels in the department of the South, to the General in Chief of the army of St. Domingo, 16th Messidor, (July 4) 8th year.

My General,

I marched this morning with the remainder of the right column, and that of the left, to occupy the heights of the plantation Dufrene, where the 6th, 7th, 9th and 10th demi-brigades were encamped. Being arrived there, I saw the enemy in great numbers, encamped on the plantation Dufrene, and in the plains of Acquin. I formed the right column into three divisions; the right commanded by the chief of brigade Laurent, the centre by the chief of brigade Paul Louverture, and the left by the chief of brigade Dommage. These three divisions began their march for the plantation. The first division had scarcely arrived at its destination, (the two others being still on their march,) when the enemy seeing this manoeuvre, made a sally from the plantation and took to flight. The division commanded by Dommage, fell in with and engaged them, but the affair was not serious until their arrival at Acquin. There the enemy then rallied and gave battle: The 4th and 8th demi-brigades which were in advance, sustained the fire of the enemy for two hours: when the other two divisions having come up with the enemy, he was beaten and put to route. I ordered the Cavalry to advance, who made great slaughter, and the enemy were pursued to the sea shore, where a number of them who attempted to embark, were destroyed in the water or among the reeds. I returned and ordered the column under general Laplume, which had not been engaged, to march ahead on the great road to Cayes, in order again to pursue the enemy to a certain distance; but at the instant I arrived at that town, another column of the enemy, which had sallied out from l'Anse-a-Veau, attempted to take us by surprise, and I had scarcely time to draw up the third battalion of the 4th demi-brigade, when he made his attack; he was, however, quickly repulsed. I made in this last affair many prisoners, whom I send to you, among others, the chief of brigade Piverger, two pair of colours and one brass four pounder. Piverger has been wounded, and I have given him all the assistance in my power. Many of the white and coloured inhabitants of the parish of Acquin have flocked to us, and I have conducted myself and my troops with the clemency and humanity which you have prescribed in your instructions. We have taken the portfolio of Rigaud and the copies of his letters; and he narrowly escaped being taken himself. We have also found in one of the forts on the sea-shore, two 24 pounders, and one magazine filled with ammunition. I cannot inform you of the quantity, as I have now a fever at the moment of writing.

Health and respect,

(Signed)

DESSALINES.

Another dispatch from general Dessalines to general Toussaint, dated l'Anse-a-Veau, July 7th, mentions that place and the neighbourhood having been cleared of the troops under Rigaud, and that Petit-Trou, was on the point of being evacuated by them; that the inhabitants and cultivators of Acquin and l'Anse-a-Veau, who had fled, had mostly returned to their homes, and received the victorious troops of Toussaint with open arms.

Among the letters of the enterprising chieftain Toussaint Louverture, the following deserves to be recorded, it is dated at Leogane July 22d, (22d Messidor) 1800—It is directed to G. Dessalines after the reduction of Petit Trou.

"Citizen General,

The details contained in your letter to me respecting the capture of Petit Trou, give me the most sensible delight. Continue, Citizen General, to cause the arms of the Republic to be triumphant and respected. Cherish with the greatest friendship those persons of every age, sex, and color, who have been led astray, and now return to their duty; cause them to retract their errors; the planters have been most cruelly deceived. Take pains that the landholders and their property be duly respected and protected, preserve order, re-establish cultivation, and exactly pursue my instructions for the purpose of avoiding the effusion of human blood. And may you be covered with that glory, which you have so richly deserved of your country, your chief, and your fellow-citizens.

Health and friendship.

TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE."