Former slaves sought revenge for slavery and feared its return.

Evidence

The ex-slave officers who held them hostage prodded one another with “stories of cruelties committed by certain white property owners,” developing an “ardent desire” to “avenge” the humiliations suffered “in the time of slavery.” They also probably—as Descourtilz did not mention—had an eye toward the future, fearing the possibility of the return of those times. — Dubois, Laurent, Avengers of the New World_ The Story of…, 961