22851: Mazur: Polish soldiers in Haiti

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

>From Bob Corbett:  Folks, I just have no time at the present to
do any research to reply to this question.  Anyone out there who can help
this person?  Thanks,  Bob

==================

From: Witold Mazur <witoldbog@shaw.ca>

My name is Witold Mazur, I am Polish and live in Canada. I just came
across a
story in James A. Michener's book " Caribbean" about the Polish battalion
in
the service of Napoleon in Haiti and the massacre of blacks at St. Marc's
square and the self destruction of the Poles by powder charges prior to an
attack by Haitian Army. I cannot get my hands on the book in time to be
useful
to me. I am preparing an address on the 15 of this month, to my fellow
Polish Combatants, on the of observance of the  Day of the Soldier ( "
Dzien
Zolnierza" ) in remembrance of the victory over  Russia in 1920, 15,
August. I
was hoping to expand on the fate of Polish Soldiers serving with Napoleon
and
hoping that in time successful Napoleon will help them to free Poland from
Russia, Austria and Prussia. The history reflected that even though
Napoleon
did conquer these countries he did not help Poland to regain total
independence
other than a creation of a token free state the very small Kingdom of
Warsaw.
Can you help me?  Could you verify that the Polish Battalion did massacre
the
blacks? Do you have any names of Polish Commanders? Any specific dates,
places? Is the story about some survivors of the Polish battalion blowing
themselves up true? Thank you for what ever help you can give me. Regards.
Witold