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 Rh plantation, where he died soon after. Henceforth the native army had but one chief—Dessalines. There was no longer any hindrance in its way.

Dessalines, who in the mean time had left for the South, proceeded to organize the forces of that province; it was put under the command of Geffrard, who was promoted to the rank of major-general. Gérin, Jean-Louis-François, Coco Herne, and Férou were respectively appointed Commandants of the arrondissements of Anse-à-Veau, Aquin, Cayes, and Jérémie.

Dessalines chose for his secretary Boisrond-Tonnerre, the future author of the Act of Independence.

Without losing time the Commander-in-Chief returned to the Western province. The French had just lost Léogane, which Cangé had stormed. From Léogane Dessalines marched to Jacmel, the siege of which he organized; he then proceeded to Petit-Goave, and from there returned to Cul-de-Sac. On his passage he had created four new regiments. Untiring in his activity, he possessed entire control of everything and missed no opportunity to further the success of his cause. He held friendly intercourse with the officers of the British men-of-war which were blockading various ports of Saint-Domingue; in this way he was able to procure arms and ammunition, always scarce in the camp of the natives.

Whilst Dessalines was everywhere communicating his ardor and his faith to all around him, Rochambeau had returned to Cap-Français, where he centred his forces in view of the decisive struggle. At that time the French army numbered 18,000 men, including officers and privates. To avenge its reverses, the chief continued to commit incredible atrocities. Placide Justin gives the following account of an encounter which took place at l'Acul: "The attack began with great fury; and for a while the blacks retreated; but they soon assumed the offensive and repelled the enemy, who retreated with heavy losses; at night they