Chapter 692: The Caribbean Nightmare
The United States.
Philadelphia.
Inside the Congressional Hall in Philadelphia, Hamilton stood at the podium, gesticulating with his right hand as he declared loudly:
"For the second time in twenty years, the arrogant British have trampled our trading rights and crushed our dignity!
"The federal government must spare no expense to protect our trade routes in the Caribbean. We must adopt an an absolutely unyielding stance, forcing the British to immediately release all illegally seized merchant ships and pledge to cease intercepting or arresting our vessels and crews!"
As the most hawkish representative of the American warmongers, Hamilton's speeches usually didn't elicit such a strong reaction from the other congressmen.
However, this time, the hall erupted with thunderous shouts:
"We must be tough on the British!"
"Issue a diplomatic protest immediately!"
More than a dozen congressmen were so agitated that they walked onto the stage, standing behind Hamilton and waving their hands in a show of support.
It was no wonder they felt such shared hatred for the enemy; just over a month ago, the newly established government of Saint-Domingue had sent a special trade license to the United States!
This was nothing short of a godsend. After Saint-Domingue's independence, merchant ships without a trade license couldn't buy a single stalk of sugarcane from the island.
This sudden special license meant that American merchants only needed to load up on sugarcane in Saint-Domingue, then sail to Europe, where the sky-high price of sugar would easily net them a massive 140% profit!
Naturally, this license had actually been brought from Paris by a French consultant—according to a secret agreement between France and Saint-Domingue, all sugarcane produced on the island for the next ten years could only be sold to those authorized by France.
Although Joseph believed that the Saint-Domingue government would likely wear down the British Expeditionary Force, he recognized the island's single-crop output and its reliance on external imports for many goods. Thus, he decided to bring the nearby United States into play to 'lend a hand'.
As he expected, the Americans immediately went wild.
Hordes of merchant ships, like hungry dogs scenting meat, surged towards Port-au-Prince.
However, the British Navy, aiming to prevent Saint-Domingue's Black government from acquiring external supplies, blockaded the harbor.
Soon, several American merchant ships were seized by the British on charges of 'aiding rebellion'.
Yet, this couldn't halt the Americans' relentless fervor.
Under the temptation of 140% profit, not even naval cannons—let alone divine wrath—could make them retreat.
Simultaneously, shrewd merchants turned to loading and unloading goods at previously inconspicuous ports on Saint-Domingue, such as Azua and Puerto Plata.
The British fleet was forced to patrol the island day and night, constantly racing against time, which consequently led to the arrest of even more American vessels.
Finally, the American government exploded in outrage.
Well, a significant portion of the Caribbean sugar transport business was invested in by American congressmen themselves, or the major capitalists they represented.
The British Navy's seizure of merchant ships was, in essence, picking their pockets.
Hamilton raised a hand, signaling the congressmen to quiet down, and declared with a solemn expression:
"I propose that we dispatch a naval fleet to escort our merchant ships, ensuring that the British no longer infringe upon our nation's legitimate interests!"
His words once again drew a storm of applause and shouts:
"Send in the navy!"
"Never bow to the British!"
"Use warships to keep the shipping lanes open!"
Just two years prior, the American Navy had showcased its might in the Caribbean, routing pirates who fled like stray dogs, so the congressmen were brimming with confidence in their navy.
With unprecedented efficiency, the American Congress unanimously passed the "Special Trade Act for the Caribbean Sea" by the following morning.
Of course, this act's swift passage wasn't solely due to the profits from the sugar trade; it also reflected the Americans' desire for retaliation regarding the Black uprising in Georgia State.
Although Americans found it somewhat suspicious that Britain would support Black slaves in stirring up trouble within the United States, without other clues, most congressmen were inclined to let Britain take the blame.
A few days later, three unassuming American frigates appeared off the coast of Saint-Domingue...
Azua, southern Saint-Domingue.
Brigadier General Toussaint Louverture, Minister of War for the Republic, surveyed his map and instructed an officer nearby:
"We're very close to Cocos. Tell the soldiers to march as close to the treeline as possible and maintain silence.
"Also, recall all reconnaissance cavalry. We must be careful not to alarm the British."
"Yes, General!"
Before the officer could even turn, the distant crackle of gunfire reached their ears.
Louverture immediately frowned. 'Had their movements been discovered?' he wondered.
He had only brought just over 700 soldiers. If the British were prepared, such a small force would struggle to defeat the 300 British troops stationed at the Cocos camp.
Just as he hesitated, wondering whether to turn back towards Mount Duarte, a mixed-race cavalryman galloped up, shouting:
"General, a resistance force is attacking Cocos Town, and they've already breached its northern side!"
The so-called resistance forces were civilian militias formed throughout Saint-Domingue.
Louverture was astonished. He knew the combat capabilities of the resistance forces well—most of their members were newly freed Black slaves, and merely knowing how to fire a gun was a rare skill. He hadn't expected them to breach the British camp!
He immediately commanded:
"Accelerate the march! Go help them!"
By the time he led his troops to Cocos Town, the battle there was already reaching a fever pitch.
More than a hundred British soldiers, using the town's mill as a stronghold, were engaged in a fierce firefight with two to three hundred resistance fighters.
The arrival of Louverture's detachment instantly shattered the British resolve to resist.
A white flag appeared atop the mill.
Before long, Saint-Domingue's Minister of War met the resistance commander who had attacked the town.
After praising the commander, he asked curiously:
"So, how many soldiers did you lead in the attack on Cocos Town?"
"We had 260 men, General."
"So few!" Louverture's eyes widened. "How did you manage to breach the town? My intelligence indicated over 300 British troops were garrisoned here."
The resistance commander nodded:
"Indeed, there were 300 white men here, General, but my relatives in town told me a few days ago that over a hundred of them had Yellow Fever, and many of the rest were suffering from diarrhea."
"So, I decided to try my luck."
Yellow Fever had clearly crippled the morale of the British forces, allowing them to be bogged down by a disorganized rabble before finally being routed by Louverture's regular army.
The battle situation was quickly summarized for Louverture.
Astonishingly, only just over 130 British soldiers in the town were completely healthy; Yellow Fever, dysentery, and blackwater fever had virtually annihilated the unit.
In fact, similar situations were rampant among British forces across the island, particularly Yellow Fever, which was spreading ferociously.
Indeed, even in October, temperatures here remained above 25 degrees Celsius, and the island swarmed with mosquitoes, thick enough to practically drown a person, bringing with them the ravages of Yellow Fever.
For British soldiers lacking immunity, this was an absolute hellish nightmare.
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