February 18th, 1802.
Aboard the Téméraire-class ship of the line, the three corps commanders, Dumas, Leclerc, and Desaix were on the upper deck of the ship, peering through their spyglass, where they saw a cluster of islands from the horizon.
"That's it, gentlemen," Dumas announced. "We are arriving at Port-au-Prince."
"After two months of voyage, we finally have arrived," Leclerc said with a sense of relief as he lowered his spyglass.
The journey across the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean had been challenging, with unpredictable weather and rough seas. The three corps commanders, along with General Leclerc, had been tasked with a critical mission: to reassert direct control on their overseas territories, Saint-Domingue and Louisiana.
Desaix, who remained silent at the prospect of arriving at the capital city of the Saint-Domingue territory, lowered his spyglass and walked towards the portside railing of the ship.