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Foreign News
January 3, 1809
Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
In November 1803, Spanish emigrants from Puerto Rico landed in eastern St. Domingo, sparking a rebellion joined by locals. French General Ferrand led 600 troops against them but was defeated; he committed suicide after the rout. Brigadier General Barquier assumed command as the city faced siege by rebels and British ships.
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ARMY OF ST. DOMINGO.
GENERAL STAFF.
Head Quarters St. Domingo, 11th Nov. 1803.
ORDER OF THE DAY.
The general in chief is no more, he fell a victim to his blind confidence. Let us pay to his memory the just tribute of tears and praise which we owe him. But let not grief enervate our souls : I do not conceal from you your danger, it is worthy of your courage. Preserve the attitude you have taken --Providence and the genius of France hover over us. Let us hope every thing---- nothing is impossible to a firm and decided will.
(Signed)
BARGUIER.
The aid-de-camp, chief of a squadron, performing the functions of chief of the staff,
(Signed)
FILLEUL.
Brigadier general Barquier is naturally called to succeed general Ferrand and accordingly he takes the command in chief of the army and the reins of administration. The present orders of the day shall be read to the troops, assembled during the day, in their respective quarters.
The aid de camp, chief of squadron, performing the functions of chief of the staff,
(Signed)
FILLEUL.
[Translated for the American.]
Havanna, Dec. 10.
By an express dispatched by the Governor of the city of St. Jago de Cuba, and who arrived here on the 8th instant, news has been received relating to the island of St. Domingo, and whereof the following is an extract.
CUBA, 25th Nov.
Six or seven hundred men, emigrants from Porto Rico. under the command of Don Ramon de Castre, disembarked at Comba (river of Higney) or somewhere lower down, and immediately the inhabitants of the villages to the eastward assembled, the greater part of them mounted and armed with pikes: Gen. Ferrand, having been informed of the movements in that quarter, sallied out from St. Domingo with 600 men, 400 of whom were the best of his troops, supposing that his presence and forces would quiet these people already encamped between Romana and Ozama ;-- yet he was vastly mistaken, for hardly had our troops got sight of the French when they began a skirmishing, so as to entice them to fire. which they did, but before they could load again the horse and pikemen attacked them with such fury on all sides, that their column was quickly thrown into disorder, rendering an escape impracticable: the encounter took place three leagues to windward of the said river Romano, distant 28 or 30 leagues to the eastward of the capital : the Spaniards pursued General Ferrand unto the aforesaid river ; but he, after having crossed the same with his remaining officers, finding himself without a soldier and considering himself as a lost man, blew out his brains by a pistol shot. which deed, his Aid-de-Camps, who foresaw his intention, were unable to prevent. The battle was fought on the 7th or 8th instant, and only 13 men escaped in so long a retreat : on the 19th the city was besieged by land, and the inhabitants' of the north and south, after having arrested those chiefs, who had conducted themselves a la mode Napoleon, repaired to the siege: the blockading squadron consists of an English ship of the line, two frigates and a brig, and a Porto Rico schooner of 12 guns.
No person in the city has been allowed to write, but the captain of a flag of truce who sailed hence thither, and was present at the sortie of Ferrand, the result thereof, the situation the place remained in, and who was boarded by the English on his coming out entered this port the day before yesterday. after three days passage, gave this information in conjunction with some sailors, stating that General Du Barquier, a subaltern of Ferrand, who remained in the city, has made overtures to this government, and in his letter attributes to himself the titles of Ferrand. Effectually the Brigade General Barquier, second in command to Ferrand, styles himself like the latter, to wit: commander in chief, Administrator and Captain General.
Extract of a letter from St. Domingo, dated the 25th of November.
“ The governor of Porto Rico, after several fruitless attempts, has at length succeeded in stirring up the Spaniards in St. Domingo--During the month of October. some insurrections formed in the interior of the island had been speedily dispersed : but during the first day of November, four hundred Spaniards from Porto Rico, having landed in the east of the island, the inhabitants joined them and formed a corps of about four or five thousand men. General Ferrand at the head of the Spanish militia. and a detachment of French troops, marched against those insurgents, but in the moment of action, having been abandoned by the Spaniards, he fell as most part of the French who had accompanied him, a victim to the confidence he had put in the people to whose happiness he had devoted his life. and to whom fanaticism has stirred up against their own interest. Gen. Barquier succeeds in command.
At this moment it is hoped that the Spaniards of the interior understand their own interest and that tranquility will be restored in this island."
GENERAL STAFF.
Head Quarters St. Domingo, 11th Nov. 1803.
ORDER OF THE DAY.
The general in chief is no more, he fell a victim to his blind confidence. Let us pay to his memory the just tribute of tears and praise which we owe him. But let not grief enervate our souls : I do not conceal from you your danger, it is worthy of your courage. Preserve the attitude you have taken --Providence and the genius of France hover over us. Let us hope every thing---- nothing is impossible to a firm and decided will.
(Signed)
BARGUIER.
The aid-de-camp, chief of a squadron, performing the functions of chief of the staff,
(Signed)
FILLEUL.
Brigadier general Barquier is naturally called to succeed general Ferrand and accordingly he takes the command in chief of the army and the reins of administration. The present orders of the day shall be read to the troops, assembled during the day, in their respective quarters.
The aid de camp, chief of squadron, performing the functions of chief of the staff,
(Signed)
FILLEUL.
[Translated for the American.]
Havanna, Dec. 10.
By an express dispatched by the Governor of the city of St. Jago de Cuba, and who arrived here on the 8th instant, news has been received relating to the island of St. Domingo, and whereof the following is an extract.
CUBA, 25th Nov.
Six or seven hundred men, emigrants from Porto Rico. under the command of Don Ramon de Castre, disembarked at Comba (river of Higney) or somewhere lower down, and immediately the inhabitants of the villages to the eastward assembled, the greater part of them mounted and armed with pikes: Gen. Ferrand, having been informed of the movements in that quarter, sallied out from St. Domingo with 600 men, 400 of whom were the best of his troops, supposing that his presence and forces would quiet these people already encamped between Romana and Ozama ;-- yet he was vastly mistaken, for hardly had our troops got sight of the French when they began a skirmishing, so as to entice them to fire. which they did, but before they could load again the horse and pikemen attacked them with such fury on all sides, that their column was quickly thrown into disorder, rendering an escape impracticable: the encounter took place three leagues to windward of the said river Romano, distant 28 or 30 leagues to the eastward of the capital : the Spaniards pursued General Ferrand unto the aforesaid river ; but he, after having crossed the same with his remaining officers, finding himself without a soldier and considering himself as a lost man, blew out his brains by a pistol shot. which deed, his Aid-de-Camps, who foresaw his intention, were unable to prevent. The battle was fought on the 7th or 8th instant, and only 13 men escaped in so long a retreat : on the 19th the city was besieged by land, and the inhabitants' of the north and south, after having arrested those chiefs, who had conducted themselves a la mode Napoleon, repaired to the siege: the blockading squadron consists of an English ship of the line, two frigates and a brig, and a Porto Rico schooner of 12 guns.
No person in the city has been allowed to write, but the captain of a flag of truce who sailed hence thither, and was present at the sortie of Ferrand, the result thereof, the situation the place remained in, and who was boarded by the English on his coming out entered this port the day before yesterday. after three days passage, gave this information in conjunction with some sailors, stating that General Du Barquier, a subaltern of Ferrand, who remained in the city, has made overtures to this government, and in his letter attributes to himself the titles of Ferrand. Effectually the Brigade General Barquier, second in command to Ferrand, styles himself like the latter, to wit: commander in chief, Administrator and Captain General.
Extract of a letter from St. Domingo, dated the 25th of November.
“ The governor of Porto Rico, after several fruitless attempts, has at length succeeded in stirring up the Spaniards in St. Domingo--During the month of October. some insurrections formed in the interior of the island had been speedily dispersed : but during the first day of November, four hundred Spaniards from Porto Rico, having landed in the east of the island, the inhabitants joined them and formed a corps of about four or five thousand men. General Ferrand at the head of the Spanish militia. and a detachment of French troops, marched against those insurgents, but in the moment of action, having been abandoned by the Spaniards, he fell as most part of the French who had accompanied him, a victim to the confidence he had put in the people to whose happiness he had devoted his life. and to whom fanaticism has stirred up against their own interest. Gen. Barquier succeeds in command.
At this moment it is hoped that the Spaniards of the interior understand their own interest and that tranquility will be restored in this island."
What sub-type of article is it?
Rebellion Or Revolt
Military Campaign
What keywords are associated?
St Domingue Rebellion
Ferrand Suicide
Spanish Emigrants
French Defeat
Porto Rico Landing
City Siege
What entities or persons were involved?
General Ferrand
Brigadier General Barquier
Don Ramon De Castre
Filleul
Where did it happen?
St. Domingo
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
St. Domingo
Event Date
November 1803
Key Persons
General Ferrand
Brigadier General Barquier
Don Ramon De Castre
Filleul
Outcome
general ferrand committed suicide after defeat; most of 600 french troops killed, only 13 escaped; city besieged by land and sea.
Event Details
Spanish emigrants from Porto Rico under Don Ramon de Castre landed in eastern St. Domingo, joined by local inhabitants armed with pikes, forming a large force. General Ferrand sallied out with 600 men but was ambushed and defeated near the Romano River. Pursued to the river, he crossed with officers and shot himself. Barquier succeeded in command; city besieged on 19th November by rebels and British squadron.