Toussaint, having arranged the departure of the…
December 1791 CE
Toussaint, having arranged the departure of the family of Bayon de Libertat, his owner, from Bréda, then rides to join the rebels, at Biassou's camp on Grande-Rivière-du-Nord, in November.
For the next few months, he will function as the “general doctor” to the rebel slaves, carrying no other military rank, although he does organize special fortifications at Grand Boucan and La Tannerie.
Jeannot, Jean-François and Biassou emerge as the principal leaders of the rebel slaves on the northern plain—all established in adjacent camps in the same area.
Negotiations are opened on December 10 with Jean-François and Biassou,who write to the Commission a letter hoping for peace.
The rebel leaders' proposal asks only liberty for themselves and a couple of hundred followers, in exchange for which they promise to return the other rebels to slavery.
On December 21, an interview between the commissioners and Jean-François takes place at Saint Michel Plantation, on the plain a short distance from Le Cap.
Toussaint appears as an adviser of Jean-François during these negotiations, and represents the black leaders in subsequent unsuccessful meetings at Le Cap, following the release of white prisoners.
Although the commissioners are delighted with the peace proposition, the colonists want to hold out for total submission.
Invoking the September 14 decree, the colonists undercut the authority of the Commission with the rebels and negotiations are broken off.