Battle of Saint-Raphaël

Battle during the Haitian Revolution
Battle of Saint-Raphaël
Part of the Haitian Revolution and the
War of the First Coalition
Date20–21 March 1794
Location
Result French victory
Belligerents
France Spain
Commanders and leaders
Toussaint Louverture Jean-François Papillon
Strength
4,800 men Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown 200 deaths
50 wounded
  • v
  • t
  • e
Haitian Revolution
  • Bois Caïman
  • Croix-des-Bouquets
  • Morne Pelé
  • 1st Tannerie
  • 1st Port-au-Prince
  • Cap-Français
  • Marmelade
  • Fort-Dauphin
  • 1st Tiburon
  • Acul
  • La Bombarde
  • 2nd Tiburon
  • Les Gonaïves
  • Port-Républicain
  • 1st Dondon
  • 2nd Tannerie
  • Saint-Marc
  • Léogane
  • Saint-Raphaël
  • Trutier
  • 3rd Tiburon
  • 1st Verrettes
  • Grande-Rivière
  • Las Cahobas
  • Mirebalais
  • 2nd Verrettes
  • Petite-Rivière
  • 2nd Dondon
  • 1st Irois
  • Jean-Rabel
  • 2nd Irois
  • Jacmel
  • War of Knives
Saint-Domingue expedition

The Battle of Saint-Raphaël took place during the Haitian Revolution.[1]

Battle

Toussaint, pushed back to Saint-Marc, turned to Saint-Raphaël and Saint-Michel occupied by the forces of Jean-François. After two days of fighting, the two towns were taken over by the crushed Republicans and Spaniards.[2]

From Saint-Michel, on October 21, Toussaint writes to Lavaux:

I hasten to tell you about the success of my expedition on Saint-Raphaël and Saint-Michel. The successes would have been more complete, if I could have taken all the Spaniards from these two places; but the night has favored them in their retreat. Nevertheless, I took two officers and about fifty soldiers, both wounded and well. I had in my people, many wounded and killed.

The Spaniards were forced to abandon many weapons, their artillery and ammunition. I have not yet taken a note of what I took from them, having not had the time: I will take care of it and I will send you a detail not the next mail. I'm going back to Saint-Raphaël to have the war paraphernalia charmed and put in a safe place.
As we would need a lot of ammunition and troops to guard these two boroughs, and that these troops are more necessary to us elsewhere, I am going to pass in the French part the horses and the cattle with horns. This operation done, I will shave the two boroughs, as well as the huts outside, so that the enemy can not make any attempt and to keep it away from us.
I wish you good health.
Hello in the homeland and its successes.

P.S.: Having stormed the trench or advanced of Saint-Raphaël, I slaughtered nearly ninety Spaniards with my cavalry, finally all those who did not want to surrender.[3]

Notes

  1. ^ Bell 2007, p. 143.
  2. ^ Madiou 1847, p. 199.
  3. ^ Schœlcher 1982, p. 108.

Bibliography