Using violence against a violent system, they shattered the economy of one of the richest regions of the world. During the first eight days of the insurrection they destroyed 184 plantations; by late September over 200 had been attacked, and “all of the plantations within fifty miles of either side of le Cap had been reduced to ashes and smoke.” In addition, almost 1,200 coffee plantations in the mountains surrounding the plain had been sacked. According to one observer, “one can count as many rebel camps as there were plantations.” Estimates of the numbers of insurgents varied widely, but by the end of September there were at least 20,000, and by some estimates up to 80,000, in the insurgent camps.

Dubois, Laurent, Avengers of the New World_ …, loc. 165