The New Hampshire Gazette

NEWBURYPORT, Oct. 13.

Last evening arrived here, the schooner Hannah, Capt. Moses Brown, 25 days from Aux-Cayes. By Capt. Brown we are favored with the following account of a Disturbance at Aux-Cayes.

On the 9th of August a new campaign was set on foot by the new Delegates, against Jeremie, Irish Bay, &c. They marched in three divisions, and were defeated with considerable loss. Gen. Rigaud has command of the division against Irish Bay. After the return of Gen. Du Fournier, the commander in chief, the colored people appeared uneasy. Orders arrived from the Cape to apprehend Mr. Gavanon, the former ordinator, which was done, and he was committed prisoner on board the African sloop of war in the harbor.—On or about the 27th, an order was issued to apprehend a Mr. Ferrand, late commandant at St. Lucia, a man of color; on his being brought to Aux-Cayes, under guard, as he was going from the place of landing to the delegation, he asked permission to speak to a gentleman of color, which was granted; and he immediately drew his sword, and cried 'to arms;' he was directly joined by Col. Rigaud and others, people of color, &c. to the amount of 3 or 400, marched immediately into forts Totrill and Lelet, which commanded the town and harbour. The National guards immediately turned out; some skirmishes ensued, in which several were killed. The commander in chief attempted his escape in a Danish sloop, but the people of color sent two boats after her, and the wind being light, took her and brought her back; but the Gen. with two of the delegates, set off in one of the row boats. The day following they demanded Mr. Gavanon, with one thousand rations, to be sent to the forts Totrill and Lelet, which was complied with—and to let all matters rest until Rigaud returned; to be decided by him on the 31st of Aug. Rigaud came to town with his troops; soon after which, in spite of him, the coloured people and blacks were so exasperated that they began to fire on the whites. The night was attended with confusion, plunder, robbery and massacre. The troubles continued for three or four days, in which between 80 and 100 whites were massacred.—Those that were taken, whom the people of colour had a particular antipathy against, were inhumanly butchered, and carried off in pieces as trophies of victory. In a few days Gen. Rigaud became commander in chief; and had he not returned, it was believed by most people that a general massacre would have taken place. The whites were disarmed; they went so far in disarming them, as to search all the American vessels in the road, and wherever they found a musket or pistol, took them, with a promise of returning them. The disturbances had stagnated all business.—No produce came into town for five weeks. Vessels waiting for pay. Capt. B. left 20 masters of vessels in Aux-Cayes for different ports in the Bite, whose vessels were captured by the French; and he was told there were 40 or 50 sail in the same predicament; they had no redress. Gen. Rigaud told them wherever he found the property American, they should be acquitted and allowed to do as they pleased.

ADDRESS

Of the American merchants, masters and supercargoes, in the town of Aux-Cayes, to General Andrew Rigaud.

Aux-Cayes, Sept. 2, 1796.

To Andrew Rigaud, general of brigade, and commander in chief of the south-side of St. Domingo.

WE the undersigned American merchants, masters and supercargoes, at present in this harbor, do hereby congratulate you for your success in restoring peace, order and tranquility in the town of Aux-Cayes: We beg you to accept the expressions of our sincere gratitude for the protection afforded to the harbor, to ourselves, vessels and properties.
We shall not fail on our return to our native land, to publish and declare that your presence alone has restored peace and order which seemed despaired of, and that to you alone we owe the preservation of ourselves and properties.

Signed by 44 American merchants, masters and supercargoes. [To which Gen. Rigaud, made a polite reply.]