After taking the louisiana territory back from spain, napoleon bonaparte planned to use the land around the mississippi river to grow crops and raise animals to feed his colony in santo domingo/haiti. the mississippi river would be used to transport our, salt, lumber, and food to france’s sugar islands in santo domingo/haiti. however, when the slaves revolted and he was forced to retreat, the louisiana territory was useless to france. how did napoleon bonaparte plan to use the mississippi river? he planned to give the river to the us. he planned to use the river to take important produces back to france's colony in santo domingo/haiti. he planned to build french colonies in the gulf of mexico. he planned to use the river in a war against spain.