"The Heyday of French Privateering from Guadeloupe, " Topic

…1796-98.

"Having recaptured Guadeloupe from the British in 1794, Victor Hugues became the island's all powerful governor; developing his colonies privateers into his chief weapon and mounting an extensive campaign against British and other neutral shipping. The islanders equipped all available craft, ranging from the Utile of 14 guns and 135 men down to row boats each carrying a handful of men, "without due regard to the formal precision required by law". British and American naval activity began to counteract the threat but Hugues' demise came when the French Government, tired of his increasingly arrogant attitude, removed him from office…"

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Guadeloupe's Commerce Raiding 1796-98: Perspectives and Contexts

"Following a very short-lived British occupation, Guadeloupe was recaptured during 1794 by an expedition from France: this led to the colony coming under the control of Victor Hugues who was to acquire the sobriquet of ‘The Colonial Robespierre'. With a large flotilla, powerful shore-batteries, and an armed and disciplined population the colony was formidable and for a while it made strenuous efforts to extend its control onto neighbouring islands in the eastern Caribbean. However, the countermeasures of a powerful British expedition under Admiral Christian and General Abercromby eventually left Guadeloupe as an isolated stronghold. It then embarked from1796-98 on a campaign of commerce raiding. It is possible to see Guadeloupe, in this period, almost as a sort of Barbary State transposed to a Caribbean setting, a menace to Anglo-American commerce in those waters. The article refers briefly to the previous article, ‘The Heyday of French Privateering from Guadeloupe 1796-98'. Considers guerre de course operated with local craft by Victor Hugues from the island's prime position; his manipulation of the prize court; his use of all available means; his disregard of procedures; his attitude of near independence from France; his anti-American attitudes; the context in which he operated and his total control of the colony…"

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Amicalement
Armand