A Tribute to Haitian Soldiers for Heroism in the American Revolution

A Tribute to Haitian Soldiers for Heroism in the American Revolution

Dedicated to the people of Haiti both in the US and abroad, please except our profound thanks, and know that our thoughts and prayers are with you…

Haitian Monument Statue in Franklin Square, Savannah, GA

After 228 years as largely unsung contributors to American independence, Haitian soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War’s bloody siege ofSavannah had a monument dedicated in their honor. On October 9, 1779, a force of more than 500 Haitian gens de couleur libre (free men of color) joined American colonists and French troops in an
unsuccessful push to drive the British from Savannah in coastal Georgia.

Chairman Daniel Fils-Aime

“We were here in 1779 to help America win independence. “ said Daniel Fils-Aime, chairman of the Miami-based Haitian American Historical Society. “That recognition is overdue.” “To see a monument in downtown Savannah and the commemoration of the involvement of the Haitian Americans, it’s a dream come true.” said Savannah Mayor Floyd Adams Jr. “This will help educate Americans but also Haitian youth about the significant contribution their ancestors made.” “The role of Haitian soldiers in the battle had long been ignored“, said North Miami Mayor Josaphat Celestin.
“It means recognition for our efforts, that we were here all along,

that Haiti was a part of the effort to liberate America and that they

came here as free men, not as slaves,” Celestin said. “We hope this country will recognize this.”

“It’s a huge deal,” said Philippe Armand, vice president of the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America, who flew to Savannah from the
Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. “All the Haitians who have gone to school know about it from the history books.”

Though not well known in the U.S., Haiti’s role in the American Revolution is a point of national pride for Haitians.

After returning home from the war, Haitian veterans soon led their own rebellion that won Haiti’s independence from France in 1804.

The Siege of Savannah

The Siege of Savannah on October 9th, 1779 presents the Revolutionary War as a world conflict more than does any other engagement of the Revolution. The memory of
this battle also reminds us of the fact that significant foreign

resources of men, money, and material contributed to the eventual

success of the cause of American independence. French, Polish, Native

Americans, African slaves, free men of African descent, Germans,

Hessians, Austrians, Scots, Welsh, Irish, English, Swedish, and American

and West Indian colonials also participated as individuals or whole

units in this most culturally diverse battle of the war. For six weeks

this diverse force was assembled in three armies to contend for the

possession of Savannah. This battle resulted in the largest number of

casualties the allies suffered in a single engagement.

The presence of the Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue as the largest unit of soldiers of African descent to fight in this war is worthy of commemoration. The fact that their number was made up of
free men who volunteered for this expedition is startling to most people

and surprising to many historians. Their presence reminds us that men

of African heritage were to be found on most battlefields of the

Revolution in large numbers. As a new and relatively inexperienced unit,

the Chasseurs participated in the siege warfare including the battle of

September 24th and the siege of October 9th.

The Chasseurs Volontaires de Saint-Domingue served as a reserve unit to American and French forces fighting a British contingent. As battered
American and French soldiers fell back, the Haitian troops moved in to

provide a retreat.

Twenty-five of their number has their names recorded as wounded or killed during the campaign. Over 60 were captured in the fall of Charleston eight months later. The British Navy captured three
transports carrying Chasseurs; these soldiers were made prizes of war

and sold into slavery. Other members of this unit were kept on duty away

from their homes for many months as part of French garrison forces. A

subsequent unit of Haitians was a part of the French and Spanish

campaign against Pensacola where they faced some of the same

regiments of British troops that their comrades faced in Savannah.

The efforts of Haiti to secure its independence from colonial rule beginning in 1791 are remarkable for the fact that what began as a slave
revolt was to ultimately succeed in prevailing over the resources of

the French Empire and to form a government of Western Hemisphere

Africans. Haiti, much smaller in population than the United States, was

attacked by armies as large as those sent against America by Britain.

The Haitian victory over the legions of Napoleon was achieved with much

less foreign assistance than the United States enjoyed.

Henri Christophe,

Many key figures in the Haitian War of Independence gained military experience and political insights through their participation in
Savannah — most notably Henri Christophe,

a youth at the time but in his adult years a general of Haitian armies

and king of his nation for fourteen years. Many of the Haitian soldiers

later fought to win their country’s own war of independence, crediting

their military experience in Savannah. Influenced by both the events of

the American Revolution and the rhetoric of the French Revolution, the

people of Haiti began a struggle for self-government and liberty. The

first nation in the Western Hemisphere to form a government led by

people of African descent, it was also the first nation to renounce

slavery.