William Wells Brown - Dessalines - Revision history

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 ** [[Crète-à-Pierrot]] - An important battle of the Haitian revolution, fought in [[1802]] between Rochambeau's troops and those of [[Toussaint Louverture]], led by [[Jean-Jacques Dessalines]].
 ** The battle of [[Vertières]] (1803) - The final and victorious battle in November of [[1803]] of the revolutionary Haitian forces under the command of Jean-Jacques Dessalines against the French troops under [[Rochambeau]].
 * [[Toussaint Louverture letter to Jean-Jacques Dessalines (1802)]]
 * [[William Wells Brown - Toussaint L'Ouverture]] - William Wells Brown on Toussaint Louverture.

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:56, 11 April 2008
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−	[[image:william_wells_brown.jpg\|right\|thumb\|180px\|Portrait of William Wells Brown]] A description of '''[[Jean-Jacques Dessalines]]''' from the 1863 book ''The Black Man, His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements'' by William Wells Brown (1814 <small>{{fn\|1}}</small> Kentucky - November 6, 1884 Chelsea, Massachusetts). William W. Brown, a former [[slave]] and [[Abolitionism\|abolitionist]], has a much more positive opinion of Dessalines than his contemporaries of European origin and over the more than 200 years since the Haitian Revolution this has become more of a mainstream view, with more writers elevating Dessalines and highlighting his accomplishments. The view of William Wells Brown contrasts sharply with the 1837 book by John Brown M.D [[The History and Present Condition of St. Domingo (1837)\|The History and Present Condition of St. Domingo (excerpt)]]. Part of which can be certainly explained by the authors different status within society.	+	[[image:william_wells_brown.jpg\|right\|thumb\|180px\|Portrait of William Wells Brown]] [[image:Jean_Jacques Dessalines_statue.jpg\|right\|thumb\|180px\|Monument to Jean-Jacques Dessalines.]]A description of '''[[Jean-Jacques Dessalines]]''' from the 1863 book ''The Black Man, His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements'' by William Wells Brown (1814 <small>{{fn\|1}}</small> Kentucky - November 6, 1884 Chelsea, Massachusetts). William W. Brown, a former [[slave]] and [[Abolitionism\|abolitionist]], has a much more positive opinion of Dessalines than his contemporaries of European origin and over the more than 200 years since the Haitian Revolution this has become more of a mainstream view, with more writers elevating Dessalines and highlighting his accomplishments. The view of William Wells Brown contrasts sharply with the 1837 book by John Brown M.D [[The History and Present Condition of St. Domingo (1837)\|The History and Present Condition of St. Domingo (excerpt)]]. Part of which can be certainly explained by the authors different status within society.

	{\| cellspacing="3"		{\| cellspacing="3"

@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
 * [[William Wells Brown - Toussaint L'Ouverture]] - William Wells Brown on Toussaint Louverture.
 * [[Toussaint L'Ouverture and the Haytian Revolutions]] - 1841 speech by James McCune Smith.
 ==Reference==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[image:william_wells_brown.jpg|right|thumb|180px|Portrait of William Wells Brown]] A description of '''[[Jean-Jacques Dessalines]]''' from the 1863 book ''The Black Man, His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements'' by William Wells Brown (1814 <small>{{fn|1}}</small> Kentucky - November 6, 1884 Chelsea, Massachusetts). William W. Brown, a former [[slave]] and [[Abolitionism|abolitionist]], has a much more positive opinion of Dessalines than his contemporaries of European origin and over the more than 200 years since the Haitian Revolution this has become more of a mainstream view, with more writers elevating Dessalines and highlighting his accomplishments. The view of William Wells Brown contrasts sharply with the 1837 book by John Brown M.D [[The History and Present Condition of St. Domingo (1837)|The History and Present Condition of St. Domingo (excerpt)]]. Part of which can be certainly explained by the authors different status within society.
@@ Line 15: / Line 14: @@
 [[Rochambeau]], the commanding general, from the landing of [[Napoleon]]'s expedition to the entire expulsion of the French, was a hard-hearted slaveholder, many of whose years had been spent in St. Domingo, and who, from the moment that he landed with his forces, treated the colored men as the worst of barbarians and wild beasts. He imported bloodhounds from Cuba to hunt them down in the mountains. When caught, he had them thrown into burning pits and boiling caldrons. When he took prisoners, he put them to the most excruciating tortures and the most horrible deaths. His ferocious and sanguinary spirit was too much for the kind heart of Toussaint, or the gentlemanly bearing of [[Christophe]]. His only match was Dessalines.
-In a battle near [[Cape FranÃ§ois]], Rochambeau took five hundred black prisoners, and put them all to death the same day. Dessalines, hearing of this, brought five hundred white prisoners in sight of the French, and hung them up, so that the cruel monster could see the result of his own barbarous example.
+In a battle near [[Cape François]], Rochambeau took five hundred black prisoners, and put them all to death the same day. Dessalines, hearing of this, brought five hundred white prisoners in sight of the French, and hung them up, so that the cruel monster could see the result of his own barbarous example.
 Although Toussaint was away from the island, the war seemed to rage with greater fury than at any former period. The blacks grew wild as they looked upon the flames; they became conscious of their power and success; gaining confidence and increasing their numbers, all the pent-up feelings and hatred of years burst forth, and they pushed forward upon defenceless men, women, and children. The proud, haughty, and self-sufficient planter, who had been permitted, under the mild rule of Toussaint, to return and establish himself on his former estate, had to give way again to the terrible realities which came upon him.
@@ Line 31: / Line 30: @@
 One of the charges against Dessalines is based upon the fact that he changed his government from a republic to an empire. But we must consider that the people of Hayti had always lived under a monarchy, and were wedded to that kind of government. Had Toussaint allowed himself to be made a king, his power would have been recognized by Great Britain, and he would never have yielded to the solicitations of [[Leclerc]], when that general's fleet landed on the island. [[Napoleon]] had just been crowned emperor of France, and it was not at all surprising that Dessalines should feel inclined to imitate the conqueror of Egypt.
-The empire of [[Hayti]] was composed of six military divisions, each to be under the command of a general officer, who was independent of his associates who governed in other districts, as he was responsible to the head of the state alone. The supreme power was formally conferred upon [[Jean Jacques Dessalines]], the avenger and liberator of his countrymen, who was to take the title of Emperor and Commander-in-chief of the Army, and to be addressed by the appellation of His Majesty--a dignity which was also conferred upon the empress, his wife, and the persons of both were declared inviolable. The crown was elective, but the power was conferred upon the reigning emperor to select and appoint his successor, by a nomination which required the sanction of the people to give it validity. The emperor was empowered to make the laws to govern the empire, and to [[promulgate]] them under his seal; to appoint all the functionaries of the state, and remove them at his will; to hold the purse of the nation; to make peace and war, and in all things to exercise the rights and privileges of an absolute sovereign. The monarch was assisted in wielding this mighty authority by a council of state, composed of generals of division and brigade. No peculiar faith in religion was established by law, and toleration was extended to the doctrines and worship of all sects. Surrounded by all the luxuries that wealth could procure, he was distinguished for the Roman virtues of abstinence and energy. Scorning effeminacy, he seemed ambitious to inure himself to the most laborious exercise and to the simplest mode of living. Dessalines was well schooled in the toils and labors of the camp. As his life was made up of extremes, so in his habits and personal endurances were seen great contrasts. Impetuosity and rapid movement were among his chief characteristics. He prided himself on his being able to surprise his enemies and taking them unprepared. Indeed, this was a leading trait in his military character, and places him alongside of [[NapolÃ©on Bonaparte|Napoleon]], or any other general, ancient or modern. As time smooths over his footsteps, and wears out the blood that marked his course, the circumstances attending it will, no doubt, be made to extenuate some of his many faults, and magnify his virtues as a general, a ruler, and a man.
+The empire of [[Hayti]] was composed of six military divisions, each to be under the command of a general officer, who was independent of his associates who governed in other districts, as he was responsible to the head of the state alone. The supreme power was formally conferred upon [[Jean Jacques Dessalines]], the avenger and liberator of his countrymen, who was to take the title of Emperor and Commander-in-chief of the Army, and to be addressed by the appellation of His Majesty--a dignity which was also conferred upon the empress, his wife, and the persons of both were declared inviolable. The crown was elective, but the power was conferred upon the reigning emperor to select and appoint his successor, by a nomination which required the sanction of the people to give it validity. The emperor was empowered to make the laws to govern the empire, and to [[promulgate]] them under his seal; to appoint all the functionaries of the state, and remove them at his will; to hold the purse of the nation; to make peace and war, and in all things to exercise the rights and privileges of an absolute sovereign. The monarch was assisted in wielding this mighty authority by a council of state, composed of generals of division and brigade. No peculiar faith in religion was established by law, and toleration was extended to the doctrines and worship of all sects. Surrounded by all the luxuries that wealth could procure, he was distinguished for the Roman virtues of abstinence and energy. Scorning effeminacy, he seemed ambitious to inure himself to the most laborious exercise and to the simplest mode of living. Dessalines was well schooled in the toils and labors of the camp. As his life was made up of extremes, so in his habits and personal endurances were seen great contrasts. Impetuosity and rapid movement were among his chief characteristics. He prided himself on his being able to surprise his enemies and taking them unprepared. Indeed, this was a leading trait in his military character, and places him alongside of [[Napoléon Bonaparte|Napoleon]], or any other general, ancient or modern. As time smooths over his footsteps, and wears out the blood that marked his course, the circumstances attending it will, no doubt, be made to extenuate some of his many faults, and magnify his virtues as a general, a ruler, and a man.
 The empress was a woman of rare beauty, and had some education, talent, and refinement. Her humanity caused her to restrain her husband, upon many occasions, from acts of cruelty. Though uneducated, Dessalines was not ignorant even of the classics, for he kept three secretaries, who, by turns, read to him.
@@ Line 44: / Line 43: @@
 {{fnb|1}}  The birth-year of William Wells Brown is sometimes given as 1815.
-{{fnb|2}} Various sources give different birthplaces and/or dates for Jean-Jacques Dessalines, but respected Haitian historians such as Madiou, in his ''L'Histoire d'HaÃ¯ti'' published in 1847, come to the conclusion that Dessalines was born in the North of Haiti near [[ Grande-RiviÃ¨re-du-Nord]].<br>
+{{fnb|2}} Various sources give different birthplaces and/or dates for Jean-Jacques Dessalines, but respected Haitian historians such as Madiou, in his ''L'Histoire d'Haïti'' published in 1847, come to the conclusion that Dessalines was born in the North of Haiti near [[ Grande-Rivière-du-Nord]].<br>
 The text, as many dealing with the Haitian Revolution, has several passages that seem removed from the truth, in part explainable by the fact, that many early writers did never set foot on Haitian soil and that many materials they consulted, were presented not by Haitians but often by Europeans, who often had strong biases and also little in country experience.
 ==See also==
 * Important battles with Dessalines' participation:
-** [[CrÃ¨te-Ã -Pierrot]] - An important battle of the Haitian revolution, fought in [[1802]] between Rochambeau's troops and those of [[Toussaint Louverture]], led by [[Jean-Jacques Dessalines]].
+** [[Crète-à-Pierrot]] - An important battle of the Haitian revolution, fought in [[1802]] between Rochambeau's troops and those of [[Toussaint Louverture]], led by [[Jean-Jacques Dessalines]].
-** The battle of [[VertiÃ¨res]] (1803) - The final and victorious battle in November of [[1803]] of the revolutionary Haitian forces under the command of Jean-Jacques Dessalines against the French troops under [[Rochambeau]].
+** The battle of [[Vertières]] (1803) - The final and victorious battle in November of [[1803]] of the revolutionary Haitian forces under the command of Jean-Jacques Dessalines against the French troops under [[Rochambeau]].
 * [[Toussaint Louverture letter to Jean-Jacques Dessalines (1802)]]
 * [[William Wells Brown - Toussaint L'Ouverture]] - William Wells Brown on Toussaint Louverture.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[image:william_wells_brown.jpg|right|thumb|180px|Portrait of William Wells Brown]] A description of '''[[Jean-Jacques Dessalines]]''' from the 1863 book ''The Black Man, His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements'' by William Wells Brown (1814 <small>{{fn|1}}</small> Kentucky - November 6, 1884 Chelsea, Massachusetts). William W. Brown, a former [[slave]] and [[Abolitionism|abolitionist]], has a much more positive opinion of Dessalines than his contemporaries of European origin and over the more than 200 years since the Haitian Revolution this has become more of a mainstream view, with more writers elevating Dessalines and highlighting his accomplishments. The view of William Wells Brown contrasts sharply with the 1837 book by John Brown M.D [[The History and Present Condition of St. Domingo (1837)|The History and Present Condition of St. Domingo (excerpt)]]. Part of which can be certainly explained by the authors different status within society.
@@ Line 14: / Line 15: @@
 [[Rochambeau]], the commanding general, from the landing of [[Napoleon]]'s expedition to the entire expulsion of the French, was a hard-hearted slaveholder, many of whose years had been spent in St. Domingo, and who, from the moment that he landed with his forces, treated the colored men as the worst of barbarians and wild beasts. He imported bloodhounds from Cuba to hunt them down in the mountains. When caught, he had them thrown into burning pits and boiling caldrons. When he took prisoners, he put them to the most excruciating tortures and the most horrible deaths. His ferocious and sanguinary spirit was too much for the kind heart of Toussaint, or the gentlemanly bearing of [[Christophe]]. His only match was Dessalines.
-In a battle near [[Cape François]], Rochambeau took five hundred black prisoners, and put them all to death the same day. Dessalines, hearing of this, brought five hundred white prisoners in sight of the French, and hung them up, so that the cruel monster could see the result of his own barbarous example.
+In a battle near [[Cape FranÃ§ois]], Rochambeau took five hundred black prisoners, and put them all to death the same day. Dessalines, hearing of this, brought five hundred white prisoners in sight of the French, and hung them up, so that the cruel monster could see the result of his own barbarous example.
 Although Toussaint was away from the island, the war seemed to rage with greater fury than at any former period. The blacks grew wild as they looked upon the flames; they became conscious of their power and success; gaining confidence and increasing their numbers, all the pent-up feelings and hatred of years burst forth, and they pushed forward upon defenceless men, women, and children. The proud, haughty, and self-sufficient planter, who had been permitted, under the mild rule of Toussaint, to return and establish himself on his former estate, had to give way again to the terrible realities which came upon him.
@@ Line 30: / Line 31: @@
 One of the charges against Dessalines is based upon the fact that he changed his government from a republic to an empire. But we must consider that the people of Hayti had always lived under a monarchy, and were wedded to that kind of government. Had Toussaint allowed himself to be made a king, his power would have been recognized by Great Britain, and he would never have yielded to the solicitations of [[Leclerc]], when that general's fleet landed on the island. [[Napoleon]] had just been crowned emperor of France, and it was not at all surprising that Dessalines should feel inclined to imitate the conqueror of Egypt.
-The empire of [[Hayti]] was composed of six military divisions, each to be under the command of a general officer, who was independent of his associates who governed in other districts, as he was responsible to the head of the state alone. The supreme power was formally conferred upon [[Jean Jacques Dessalines]], the avenger and liberator of his countrymen, who was to take the title of Emperor and Commander-in-chief of the Army, and to be addressed by the appellation of His Majesty--a dignity which was also conferred upon the empress, his wife, and the persons of both were declared inviolable. The crown was elective, but the power was conferred upon the reigning emperor to select and appoint his successor, by a nomination which required the sanction of the people to give it validity. The emperor was empowered to make the laws to govern the empire, and to [[promulgate]] them under his seal; to appoint all the functionaries of the state, and remove them at his will; to hold the purse of the nation; to make peace and war, and in all things to exercise the rights and privileges of an absolute sovereign. The monarch was assisted in wielding this mighty authority by a council of state, composed of generals of division and brigade. No peculiar faith in religion was established by law, and toleration was extended to the doctrines and worship of all sects. Surrounded by all the luxuries that wealth could procure, he was distinguished for the Roman virtues of abstinence and energy. Scorning effeminacy, he seemed ambitious to inure himself to the most laborious exercise and to the simplest mode of living. Dessalines was well schooled in the toils and labors of the camp. As his life was made up of extremes, so in his habits and personal endurances were seen great contrasts. Impetuosity and rapid movement were among his chief characteristics. He prided himself on his being able to surprise his enemies and taking them unprepared. Indeed, this was a leading trait in his military character, and places him alongside of [[Napoléon Bonaparte|Napoleon]], or any other general, ancient or modern. As time smooths over his footsteps, and wears out the blood that marked his course, the circumstances attending it will, no doubt, be made to extenuate some of his many faults, and magnify his virtues as a general, a ruler, and a man.
+The empire of [[Hayti]] was composed of six military divisions, each to be under the command of a general officer, who was independent of his associates who governed in other districts, as he was responsible to the head of the state alone. The supreme power was formally conferred upon [[Jean Jacques Dessalines]], the avenger and liberator of his countrymen, who was to take the title of Emperor and Commander-in-chief of the Army, and to be addressed by the appellation of His Majesty--a dignity which was also conferred upon the empress, his wife, and the persons of both were declared inviolable. The crown was elective, but the power was conferred upon the reigning emperor to select and appoint his successor, by a nomination which required the sanction of the people to give it validity. The emperor was empowered to make the laws to govern the empire, and to [[promulgate]] them under his seal; to appoint all the functionaries of the state, and remove them at his will; to hold the purse of the nation; to make peace and war, and in all things to exercise the rights and privileges of an absolute sovereign. The monarch was assisted in wielding this mighty authority by a council of state, composed of generals of division and brigade. No peculiar faith in religion was established by law, and toleration was extended to the doctrines and worship of all sects. Surrounded by all the luxuries that wealth could procure, he was distinguished for the Roman virtues of abstinence and energy. Scorning effeminacy, he seemed ambitious to inure himself to the most laborious exercise and to the simplest mode of living. Dessalines was well schooled in the toils and labors of the camp. As his life was made up of extremes, so in his habits and personal endurances were seen great contrasts. Impetuosity and rapid movement were among his chief characteristics. He prided himself on his being able to surprise his enemies and taking them unprepared. Indeed, this was a leading trait in his military character, and places him alongside of [[NapolÃ©on Bonaparte|Napoleon]], or any other general, ancient or modern. As time smooths over his footsteps, and wears out the blood that marked his course, the circumstances attending it will, no doubt, be made to extenuate some of his many faults, and magnify his virtues as a general, a ruler, and a man.
 The empress was a woman of rare beauty, and had some education, talent, and refinement. Her humanity caused her to restrain her husband, upon many occasions, from acts of cruelty. Though uneducated, Dessalines was not ignorant even of the classics, for he kept three secretaries, who, by turns, read to him.
@@ Line 43: / Line 44: @@
 {{fnb|1}}  The birth-year of William Wells Brown is sometimes given as 1815.
-{{fnb|2}} Various sources give different birthplaces and/or dates for Jean-Jacques Dessalines, but respected Haitian historians such as Madiou, in his ''L'Histoire d'Haïti'' published in 1847, come to the conclusion that Dessalines was born in the North of Haiti near [[ Grande-Rivière-du-Nord]].<br>
+{{fnb|2}} Various sources give different birthplaces and/or dates for Jean-Jacques Dessalines, but respected Haitian historians such as Madiou, in his ''L'Histoire d'HaÃ¯ti'' published in 1847, come to the conclusion that Dessalines was born in the North of Haiti near [[ Grande-RiviÃ¨re-du-Nord]].<br>
 The text, as many dealing with the Haitian Revolution, has several passages that seem removed from the truth, in part explainable by the fact, that many early writers did never set foot on Haitian soil and that many materials they consulted, were presented not by Haitians but often by Europeans, who often had strong biases and also little in country experience.
 ==See also==
 * Important battles with Dessalines' participation:
-** [[Crète-à-Pierrot]] - An important battle of the Haitian revolution, fought in [[1802]] between Rochambeau's troops and those of [[Toussaint Louverture]], led by [[Jean-Jacques Dessalines]].
+** [[CrÃ¨te-Ã -Pierrot]] - An important battle of the Haitian revolution, fought in [[1802]] between Rochambeau's troops and those of [[Toussaint Louverture]], led by [[Jean-Jacques Dessalines]].
-** The battle of [[Vertières]] (1803) - The final and victorious battle in November of [[1803]] of the revolutionary Haitian forces under the command of Jean-Jacques Dessalines against the French troops under [[Rochambeau]].
+** The battle of [[VertiÃ¨res]] (1803) - The final and victorious battle in November of [[1803]] of the revolutionary Haitian forces under the command of Jean-Jacques Dessalines against the French troops under [[Rochambeau]].
 * [[Toussaint Louverture letter to Jean-Jacques Dessalines (1802)]]
 * [[William Wells Brown - Toussaint L'Ouverture]] - William Wells Brown on Toussaint Louverture.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[image:william_wells_brown.jpg|right|thumb|180px|Portrait of William Wells Brown]] A description of '''[[Jean-Jacques Dessalines]]''' from the 1863 book ''The Black Man, His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements'' by William Wells Brown (1814 <small>{{fn|1}}</small> Kentucky - November 6, 1884 Chelsea, Massachusetts). William W. Brown, a former [[slave]] and [[Abolitionism|abolitionist]], has a much more positive opinion of Dessalines than his contemporaries of European origin and over the more than 200 years since the Haitian Revolution this has become more of a mainstream view, with more writers elevating Dessalines and highlighting his accomplishments. The view of William Wells Brown contrasts sharply with the 1837 book by John Brown M.D [[The History and Present Condition of St. Domingo (1837)|The History and Present Condition of St. Domingo (excerpt)]]. Part of which can be certainly explained by the authors different status within society.
 {| cellspacing="3"
@@ Line 60: / Line 59: @@
 ==External links==
 * Project Gutenberg: [http://www.gutenberg.org/author/William_Wells_Brown Works by William Wells Brown] - E-text archive.
 [[Category:Accounts of the Haitian Revolution|Brown, William Wells - Dessalines]]

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 The empress was a woman of rare beauty, and had some education, talent, and refinement. Her humanity caused her to restrain her husband, upon many occasions, from acts of cruelty. Though uneducated, Dessalines was not ignorant even of the classics, for he kept three secretaries, who, by turns, read to him.
-As soon as he came into power, the emperor exerted every nerve to fortify the island, and to make it strong in the time of need. Much has been said of the cruelty of this man, and far be it from me to apologize for his acts. Yet, to judge rightly of him, we must remember that he had an ignorant people to govern, on the one hand, and the former planters to watch and control on the other. This latter class was scattered all over Europe and the United States, and they lost no opportunity to poison the minds of the whites against Dessalines and his government. He discovered many plots of the old white planters to assassinate him, and this drew out the ferociousness of his disposition, and made him cruel in the extreme. That he caused the death of innocent persons, there is not the slightest doubt; but that such a man as he was needed at the time, all must admit. Had Dessalines been in the place of Toussaint, he would never have been transferred from [[Hayti]] to France. Unlimited power, conferred upon him, together with the opposition of the whites in all countries, made him cruel even to his own race, and they looked forward with a degree of hope to his removal. The mulattoes, against whom he had never ceased to war, were ever watchful for an opportunity to take his life. A secret conspiracy was accordingly planned by this class, and on the [[October 17|17th of October]], [[1806]], while Dessalines was on a journey from St. Marks to [[Port au Prince]], a party in ambuscade fired at him, and he fell dead.
+As soon as he came into power, the emperor exerted every nerve to fortify the island, and to make it strong in the time of need. Much has been said of the cruelty of this man, and far be it from me to apologize for his acts. Yet, to judge rightly of him, we must remember that he had an ignorant people to govern, on the one hand, and the former planters to watch and control on the other. This latter class was scattered all over Europe and the United States, and they lost no opportunity to poison the minds of the whites against Dessalines and his government. He discovered many plots of the old white planters to assassinate him, and this drew out the ferociousness of his disposition, and made him cruel in the extreme. That he caused the death of innocent persons, there is not the slightest doubt; but that such a man as he was needed at the time, all must admit. Had Dessalines been in the place of Toussaint, he would never have been transferred from [[Hayti]] to France. Unlimited power, conferred upon him, together with the opposition of the whites in all countries, made him cruel even to his own race, and they looked forward with a degree of hope to his removal. The [[mulatto|mulattoes]], against whom he had never ceased to war, were ever watchful for an opportunity to take his life. A secret conspiracy was accordingly planned by this class, and on the [[October 17|17th of October]], [[1806]], while Dessalines was on a journey from St. Marks to [[Port au Prince]], a party in ambuscade fired at him, and he fell dead.
 [[Hayti]] had much improved under his management, especially in agriculture. The towns, many of them, had been rebuilt, commerce extended, and the arts patronized. Military talents have been ascribed to Dessalines even superior to Toussaint. He certainly had great courage, but upon the battle field it seemed to be the headlong fury of the tiger rather than the calm deliberation of [[L'Ouverture]]. Of all the heroic men which the boiling caldron of the [[Saint-Domingue|St. Domingo]] revolution threw upon its surface, for the purpose of meeting the tyrannical whites, of bringing down upon them terrible retribution for their long and cruel reign, and of vindicating the rights of the oppressed in that unfortunate island, the foremost place belongs to the African, the savage, the soldier, the general, the president, and lastly the emperor [[Jean Jacques Dessalines]].
@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 ==Reference==
 * {{The Black Man, His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements}} - p. 110-117
-* Wikipedia contributors (2006). William Wells Brown. ''Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia''. Retrieved 06:12, February 2, 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Wells_Brown&oldid=36570357.
+* Wikipedia contributors (2006). William Wells Brown. ''Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia''. Retrieved 06:12, February 2, 2006 [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Wells_Brown&oldid=36570357].
 ==External links==