Soldiers From What is now Haiti Fought Alongside Americans to Gain Independence
Henry Christophe, Jean-Baptiste Chavannes and other later revolutionaries fought
The Battle of Savannah, Georgia, which occurred between September 16 and October 18, 1779, became one of the bloodiest battles during the American Revolutionary War. At the time, British forces numbering 3,200 troops had occupied Savannah, then the capital of Georgia, for a year.
They were challenged by 600 Continental troops led by General Benjamin Lincoln who were supported by 3,500 French soldiers led by First Lieutenant Count d’Estaing, including 800 troops from Saint-Domingue (later Haiti) and other French Caribbean colonies.
French Contingent led by Jean Baptiste Charles Henri Hector, Comte d'Estaing
The French had agreed to ally with the American Revolutionary forces following the royal ordinance issued by Louis XVI, the King of France, on March 12, 1779.
D’Estaing’s troops were mainly composed of colonial regiments coming from various locations such as Guadeloupe, Martinique, or Saint-Domingue. Of the 1,550, 800 men from the French Caribbean colony of Saint Domingue, present day Haiti, were organized into a regiment called Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue. These soldiers were Gens de Couleurs libres (Black and Mulatto free men of color) who voluntarily joined the French colonial forces.
They were allegedly born free and thus were distinct from free slaves or affranchis, who were born enslaved or became enslaved during their lives and then freed themselves or were freed. This distinction allowed the Gens de Couleur a higher social and political position in the French colonial West Indies. According to the 1685 French Black Code, they had the same rights and privileges as the white colonial population. In practice, however, strong discrimination by white French colonial residents impeded the gens de couleurs from fully exercising them.
Nevertheless, due to their in-between status, some men joined the Chasseurs-Volontaires formed after the March 12, 1779 royal ordinance. They became part of the French command which supported the Continental Army in Savannah. In fact, the gens de couleurs outnumbered the 500 American troops at the Battle of Savannah. Their role in the battle was also significant because they were sent in as scouts before the beginning of the hostilities on September 8, 1779.
They were named The Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue
During the course of the battle, they were considered one of the most homogeneous and efficient allied group, fighting the English troops with obstinacy and boldness. But the knowledge the British had concerning the American plan of attack, due to a leak of information given by American deserters, impeded any chance of victory. The Chasseurs-Volontaires military group represented a large part of the 168 killed and 411 wounded soldiers in the French ranks following the battle.
On October 8, 2007, a memorial statue was unveiled in Savannah dedicated to the Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue during the Battle of Savannah. The memorial pays tribute to the significant role these soldiers had during the Revolutionary War and recognizes the support they gave to the founding of the United States.
