in taking possession of the island, which the French never recovered.
In the vicinity of Cap-Français the struggle was very fierce. Romain tried twice to storm the town, but failed. On his side Toussaint-Brave captured and then lost Fort-Liberté.
In the South one event was succeeding the other with great rapidity. After establishing his headquarters at Gerard, Geffrard pushed on with his military operations. Nothing could stop the enthusiasm of the people. In every encounter the French were routed. The insurgents occupied successively Anse-à-Veau, Miragoane, Petit-Trou, Saint-Michel, Aquin, Saint-Louis, Cavaillon; all the coast line up to Tiburon was in their power.
In order more easily to suppress the insurrection in the South, Rochambeau took up his abode at Port-au-Prince. Instead of gaining new laurels he daily debased himself with new crimes. By his order Madame Paul Louverture and her son Jean-Pierre Louverture were drowned in the harbor of Cap-Français. The executioners spared neither age nor sex.[1] Sixteen native officers were left on an islet where they were tied to the trees; defenseless against the stings of all kinds of insects they suffered the slow and terrible agony of starving to death.[2]
On his arrival at Port-au-Prince (March 20, 1803) Rochambeau heard that Petit-Goave had just fallen in Lamarre's power and that Léogane was threatened by Cangé. The troops he despatched succeeded in ridding Léogane of the enemies who surrounded it. But General Neterwood failed at Petit-Goave. In trying to storm the fort where Lamarre was intrenched the French General fell mortally wounded and his soldiers fled in great disorder.
The natives were steadily gaining ground. Pétion
