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iciHaiti - History : The 20 days of the siege of Fort de la Crête in Pierrot 30/03/2021 09:39:05
"Fort la Crète in Pierrot is located south-east of the Petite Rivière de l'Artibonite. Its elevation gives it a breathtaking view of the Valley and the Artibonite River, east access to the Cahos gorges and the border region of Mirebalais, an important point of control. The first assault took place on March 4. The French vanguard of 2,000 men commanded by General Debelle goes on the attack. The artillery of the Fort, the infantry of Lamartinière and the guard of honor of Toussaint put the French to flight. On March 7, Dessalines was knocked down by Rochambeau and Boudet. On March 11, Dessalines returned to the fort accompanied by Bazelais, Roux and Laurette. He exhorted his troops : "I only want to keep with me the bravest; we will be attacked this morning..." The second assault on the Fort took place on March 12. This assault led by Captain General Leclerc and Generals Boudet, Dugua and Lacroix also failed. Evidently the assaults had failed, Leclerc withdrew and left Rochambeau in charge. The blockade of the fort being decided, the fort was bombarded, with mortar fire, for three days and three nights. Inside the fort, the situation is difficult, in an oppressive heat : lack of water and food. On March 22, a new attempt against the fortified redoubts failed. General Lacroix (French) wrote, "The soldiers were astonished by the behavior of a woman who urged her brothers in arms from the ramparts to continue the fight. This woman was called Marie-Jeanne Lamartinière, wife of the commandant of Fort Louis Daure Lamartinière. Dressed in a Mamluk-style costume, she carried a slung rifle and a landing sword attached to a steel belt. [...] under the rain of projectiles, Marie-Jeanne went from one end of the ramparts to the other, sometimes distributing cartridges, sometimes helping to load the cannons...é On March 24, the besieged exhausted, decided to evacuate the Fort... " This publication was inspired by conversations held with the Sociologist and friend of the Haitian National Pantheon Museum (MUPANAH), Daniel Supplice, around the research he carried out on the battles of Crête-à-Pierrot. IH/ iciHaiti
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