Free-coloreds struck alliances with rebel slaves and burned white troops to death

Evidence

The free-coloreds of the Western Province, expecting open warfare with their white enemies, were eager for military allies. They found them in a several groups of rebellious slaves who were active in the region. The freecoloreds promised these slaves—who became known as the Swiss (a reference to the Swiss mercenaries who served the French king)—that they would receive freedom in return for their service. The “Confederates,” as the alliance of the free-coloreds and the Swiss called themselves, quickly proved to be a daunting military force. In early September a troop of whites from Port-au-Prince attacked them near Croix-des-Bouquets. The Confederates pushed many of their white opponents into the nearby cane fields. It was not a good place to take refuge; as they should have known by then, sugarcane burns all too easily. The Confederates set fire to the cane fields, and the whites trapped in them were burned to death. — Dubois, Laurent, Avengers of the New World_ The Story of…, 406

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clarifies the ‘Swiss’ label for allied rebel slaves and the ‘Confederates’ alliance.