Editing Toussaint Louverture (section)

===Leclerc's campaign: 1801–1802===
[[File:Général CHARLES-EMMANUEL LECLERC (1772-1802).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Napoleon]] dispatched General [[Charles Leclerc (general, born 1772)|Charles Emmanuel Leclerc]] (pictured) to seize control of the island.]]
Napoleon's troops, under the command of his brother-in-law, General [[Charles Leclerc (general, born 1772)|Charles Emmanuel Leclerc]], were directed to seize control of the island by diplomatic means, proclaiming peaceful intentions, and keep secret his orders to deport all black officers.<ref>James, pp. 292–294; Bell, pp. 223–224</ref> Meanwhile, Louverture was preparing for defense and ensuring discipline. This may have contributed to a rebellion against forced labor led by his nephew and top general, Moïse, in October 1801. Because the activism was violently repressed, when the French ships arrived, not all of Saint-Domingue supported Louverture.<ref>[[#Bell|Bell (2008) [2007]]], pp. 206–209, 226–229, 250</ref> In late January 1802, while Leclerc sought permission to land at [[Cap-Français]] and Christophe held him off, the Vicomte de [[Donatien-Marie-Joseph de Vimeur, vicomte de Rochambeau|Rochambeau]] suddenly attacked [[Fort-Liberté]], effectively quashing the diplomatic option.<ref>[[#Bell|Bell (2008) [2007]]], pp. 232–234.</ref> Christophe had written to Leclerc: "you will only enter the city of Cap, after having watched it reduced to ashes. And even upon these ashes, I will fight you."

Louverture's plan in case of war was to burn the coastal cities and as much of the plains as possible, retreat with his troops into the inaccessible mountains, and wait for [[yellow fever]] to decimate the French.<ref>[[#Bell|Bell (2008) [2007]]], pp. 234–236.</ref> The biggest impediment to this plan proved to be difficulty in internal communications. Christophe burned Cap-Français and retreated, but Paul Louverture was tricked by a false letter into allowing the French to occupy Santo Domingo. Other officers believed Napoleon's diplomatic proclamation, while some attempted resistance instead of burning and retreating.<ref>[[#Bell|Bell (2008) [2007]]], pp. 234, 236–237.</ref>

With both sides shocked by the violence of the initial fighting, Leclerc tried belatedly to revert to the diplomatic solution. Louverture's sons and their tutor had been sent from France to accompany the expedition with this end in mind and were now sent to present Napoleon's proclamation to Louverture.<ref>[[#Bell|Bell (2008) [2007]]], pp. 237–241.</ref> When these talks broke down, months of inconclusive fighting followed.

This ended when Christophe, ostensibly convinced that Leclerc would not re-institute slavery, switched sides in return for retaining his generalship in the French military. General Jean-Jacques Dessalines did the same shortly later. On 6 May 1802, Louverture rode into Cap-Français and negotiated an acknowledgement of Leclerc's authority in return for an amnesty for him and his remaining generals. Louverture was then forced to capitulate and placed under house arrest on his property in Ennery.<ref>[[#Bell|Bell (2008) [2007]]], pp. 261–262.</ref>