The Battle of Crête-à-Pierrot was a major battle of the Haitian Revolution taking place from 4 March until 24 March 1802. The battle took place at the Crête-à-Pierrot fort (in Haitian Creole Lakrèt-a-Pyewo), east of Saint-Marc on the valley of the Artibonite River. The French colonial army consisting of 2,000 men led by General Charles Leclerc blockade the fort, defended by Jean-Jacques Dessalines's Haitian rebels. Preventing or allowing access to the Cahos Mountains, the fort was strategically important. With drained food and munitions supplies, Dessalines's rebels forced through the French blockade and escaped the French and went to the mountains. Here, Dessalines's forces massacred many French civilians, and regained control of the Crête-à-Pierrot fort on 11 March.