Chapter 657: The Caribbean Wave of Independence
The British cannons roared to life, launching their assault on Nassau.
Within the city, the black insurgents—now formally called the "Bahamas National Army"—responded in kind with their own artillery.
Thanks to the 10 cannons delivered earlier by Gallisonnière, and the few they already possessed, Nassau now boasted 17 cannons, giving them firepower surpassing the British.
General Bland pressed his troops to advance. Based on his months of experience fighting the black rebels, he was confident that if his men could close the gap to musket range, their superior training and equipment would quickly shatter the enemy lines.
Even with only half or even a quarter of the rebels' numbers, the British soldiers had never seen the "black devils" dare stand and engage in a direct firefight.
And now, with a significant numerical advantage, Bland believed retaking Nassau was merely a matter of time.
The French Command Post
In the temporary command post, Gallisonnière raised his binoculars and observed the British troops drawing closer to the Bahamas National Army's defensive line. He then turned to glance at his rear flank, his brow furrowing slightly.
Suddenly, the sound of gunfire erupted from the southeast.
Gallisonnière's expression immediately relaxed. He retrieved a pipe and notebook from the nearby table and calmly slipped them into his pocket.
Moments later, a courier arrived on horseback, shouting:
"Colonel! Our flank is under attack! The enemy has over 2,000 infantry and a small cavalry contingent."
Gallisonnière nodded, maintaining an air of composure, and instructed his aide-de-camp:
"Order the 17th Infantry Regiment and the Charolais Infantry Regiment to withdraw toward the port. Ensure the cavalry provides cover."
The aide-de-camp froze for a moment, stunned. "Withdraw, Colonel?"
"That's correct. The enemy assault is too strong. Staying will only result in massive casualties."
"But..."
Gallisonnière cut him off sharply:
"Execute the order immediately, Captain Bertrand! And remind the officers—avoid unnecessary engagement with the enemy. Protecting our soldiers' lives is the priority. Leave the rest to the British."
"Y-yes, Colonel!"
Soon, the 3,000 French troops defending the flank began retreating eastward, deliberately avoiding confrontation. The Bahamas National Army didn't give chase but instead pivoted to launch an assault on the British main force.
The British Lines
Bland, too, heard the gunfire on the flanks. Though surprised the black rebels had mounted a flank attack, he wasn't overly concerned.
He assumed the French troops would handle the situation. Within two or three hours, he would breach Nassau's defenses and then turn his attention to the flanking forces—or, more likely, join the French in routing the rebels entirely.
However, the sounds of horns and drums suddenly echoed from Nassau. Through his binoculars, Bland saw a disorganized line of black soldiers surging out of the city in formation.
"Foolish blacks," he sneered.
If the rebels had stayed entrenched behind their defenses, he might have lost several hundred men breaching the city. But now, they were offering themselves up in a frontal assault.
Victory was certain.
As Bland mentally composed his victory speech for when he entered Nassau, he noticed something unsettling—gunfire on the flanks seemed to be drawing closer.
He raised his binoculars again, only to see confusion spreading along the British left flank.
"What's happening?"
A scout rushed over, breathless:
"Sir! The French troops on our left have been routed. Over a thousand rebel soldiers are advancing on our line!"
Bland's face paled. He hastily sent his 600-man reserve force to shore up the left flank, grumbling under his breath:
"Useless French! Defeated by a bunch of blacks!"
Just as the reserve troops began moving into position, another officer arrived, reporting that the French on the right flank had also collapsed and that another thousand black rebels were closing in.
Bland turned ashen.
The Decisive Moment
By 3 PM, 1,300 British soldiers under Bland's command threw down their weapons and surrendered to the Bahamas National Army.
Although the British were confident they could win a direct firefight against the untrained rebels, the situation quickly turned dire as they found themselves surrounded on three sides.
To maximize the element of surprise, Louverture had instructed his troops not to form standard line formations. Instead, they charged directly into the British ranks with machetes and axes, hacking their way through and leaving chaos in their wake.
Bland barely escaped with the help of his cavalry, retreating to the southern beaches of the Bahamas. Coincidentally, this was the same location where Gallisonnière's French troops had "retreated" during the previous encounter.
This time, Bland was accompanied by fewer than 1,000 soldiers.
The Spanish contingent fared slightly better. Since the Bahamian rebels had little interest in them, they managed to withdraw most of their troops.
Victory in Nassau
As dusk settled, the people of Nassau took to the streets, torches in hand, celebrating their hard-won victory.
Members of the abolitionist movement delivered speeches from high platforms:
"Yes! Our friends from France, who uphold liberty and equality, refused to oppress us. They withdrew from the battlefield, giving us the opportunity to defeat the British!"
"The French only came here under British pressure. They never once fired a shot at us. In fact, they've secretly supplied us with ammunition all along..."
This narrative was orchestrated by the Bahamian Parliament at the request of the "Abolitionist Alliance" in Saint-Domingue.
Similar propaganda efforts were underway in Jamaica, the Lesser Antilles, and beyond.
Joseph had invested considerable effort in helping the Caribbean's black population achieve freedom. He wasn't about to let it end with animosity toward France.
He sought gratitude—gratitude that would foster dependency on and loyalty to France among these newly independent nations.
With Saint-Domingue's enormous influence over the abolitionist movement in the Caribbean, shaping public opinion was hardly a challenge.
A New Republic
Two days later, the Republic of the Bahamas, buoyed by its victory at Nassau, held its first national election.
Despite lacking a robust administrative framework—the Parliament's control extended only to Nassau and its surroundings—the election concluded in just three days.
Over 60,000 votes were cast. Kenneth Liddington, a leader of the Bahamian insurgents, was elected the first president.
Toussaint Louverture, a native of Saint-Domingue, received over 50,000 votes but declined the invitation to serve as vice president.
Saint-Domingue Follows Suit
Meanwhile, Saint-Domingue also began its election process. Unlike the Bahamas, Saint-Domingue's Parliament had long established effective governance across its cities, resulting in a more protracted election process.
Nevertheless, Ogé's name had become synonymous with freedom throughout the Caribbean. His victory was virtually guaranteed.
Renewed Rebellion in Jamaica
In Jamaica, Oréol, after months of preparation, had regrouped and armed a force of 1,500 rebels.
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