Haitian American Historical Society

Heritagekonpa Magazine

Published December 17, 2003

The Haitian American Historical Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to investigating fully any past instances where Haitian Contributions have been identified. This Organization seeks to establish truth and accuracy in historical events pertaining to Haitian and those of Haitian decent.

The bold and ambitious goal will allow current and future generations to understand and appreciate the role and contribution of Haitian to American Society an other parts of the world.

It is our hope this society will promote understanding and positive corporation between Haitians and others of African decant toward a better understanding of our common heritage.

Join the Haitian American Society on December 5-7 for A historic visit in Savannah click here for detail.

The Savannah Monument Project.

The Haitian American Historical Society is leading a project to honor our forefathers who fought for American independence at the siege of Savannah, Georgia, in 1779. Savannah remembers the contribution of our forefather and is coorpareting with the Haitian American Historical Society by reserving a site for the monument and by providing technical assistance.

Theme

This monument will represent the Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue, a regiment of soldiers who formed one-tenth of the allied army before Savannah in the fall of 1779. This unit was comprised of over 500 free men of color from the Island of Haiti and was the largest unit of men of African descent to fight in the American Revolution.

This monument will be the depiction of soldiers and a drummer of the Revolutionary War in

Regimental uniform in a resolute and determined pose. These soldiers will be obviously of African decent. These soldiers will be realistically portrayed and historically correct in detail. The monument's figures will be greater than life size. Through words and symbols these figures will be associated with the modern nation of Haiti. The figures under arms represent the ten companies of Haitian soldiers of the line who fought in the six-week-long siege of Savannah; the drummer represents Henri Christopher who, as a 12-year-old, participated in this event. He, like many of his comrades, later became a leader in the struggle for Haitian independence from French colonial rule. Young Christophe in fact was to become commander of the Haitian army and later King of Haiti; he was to be the second head of state in the Western Hemisphere to be of African heritage. Facets on the monument base will present other aspects of Haitian involvement in the American War for Independence and present the related aspects of the Haitian War for Independence and Haitian support for South American colonies in their efforts to gain independence from European rule.

This theme is directly related to the most significant military engagement to occur in Chatham County -- one that occurred during a point in the Revolutionary War when the fate of the United States was very uncertain.

This theme is of local, state, national, and international significance. It depicts the largest military engagement of the Revolution in Georgia, let alone Savannah. It is of national significance in that it depicts the largest unit of African heritage to fight in the Revolution and draws attention to the existence of others. It is of primary international significance in that it refers to an event in Savannah that included many of the leaders of the Haitian War for Independence. These men received military experience and were exposed to the ideals of independence and self-government in Savannah. It also draws attention to the role of France, Spain, Holland, and individual foreign volunteers who assisted in the American Revolution.

This theme deals with the origins of the United States and the complex and often misunderstood factors that secured our independence. It recognizes the contributions of soldiers of African descent in our war for independence. It recognizes the power of the ideals of liberty and self-government that spread from the United States to other nations after our Revolution. It recognizes the power of the individual in the rise of Henri Christophe from slave, servant, and drummer boy to commander of armies and king of his nation through the force of his character and natural ability.

This specific theme has not been dealt with locally or anywhere else in the United States. There are other monuments in Savannah recognizing other aspects of the Revolutionary War.

This theme falls within two categories: military history and African-American history.

Does the theme reflect a larger connection to the community as a whole or only to a distinct segment of the community?

This theme directly relates to Haitian and African-American history but in context with an event in which all elements of 18th century America and Europe participated together. Pulaski and Jasper are commemorated for their exploits and sacrifice but they also represent the struggle for independence, as does this monument.

The battle 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 heritage 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 attack of October 9th. Twenty-five of their number have 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.

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. There is little appreciation in the United States for the events that led to the formation of the Haitian nation. 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.

The concepts of self-government and independence from European colonial rule were obvious elements in the battle of Savannah. To see these concepts tested on the battlefield was to be an experience that would be carried far afield from this and other Revolutionary War battlefields. The French Revolution is generally considered an outgrowth of its American predecessor, though it exceeded our struggle in its violence. Less well known are the Polish efforts to seek independence under Thaeddeus Koscivszko, a veteran of our revolution, that occurred shortly after the United States was formed. Russia cruelly crushed these efforts. The Haitian war for independence is another example of this historical ripple effect.

The figure of Henri Christophe as a young drummer participating in the campaign to take Savannah is an important figure in Haitian history. His rise from slave to king demonstrates an incredibly rare occurrence in human history. To rise to national leadership from the lower landowning and educated class like a Jackson, or a Washington, or a Lincoln is a celebrated event. To rise from lifelong, multigenerational bondage and to assume the role of soldier, officer, general, and then national leader and political architect is truly an almost unique human achievement. Henri Christophe accomplished this in the violent and turbulent times of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century.

This application proposes a sculpture of a group of figures on a significant base. Those to the rear are adult armed soldiers of the line; the figure in front will represent the twelve-year-old Henri Christophe in the role of military drummer. These figures are to be greater than life size and elevated consistent with the surroundings. These figures will represent Revolutionary War soldiers in a realistic and historically accurate manner. Their pose will suggest resolution and determination. Their gaze will be drawn to their front at the events of the battle they participated in. They will, in a manner suggested by the artist, be obviously portrayed as men of African descent. The base or pedestal for this monument will have on its facets additional representations of related Haitian history executed in a manner compatible with the design of the figures, the design and execution to be the suggestion of the sculptor. It is the intention of the applicant to commission the noted sculptor James Mastin to perform this work.

After consultation with the City Council, City Manager's office, the Coastal Heritage Society, the First African Baptist Church, and the Civil Rights Museum, the applicant suggests that Franklin Square be the location of this piece of public art. This is due to the association of this square with the African-American heritage of Savannah and its proximity to the well-visited City Market in the Savannah National Landmark District.

Haitian American Historical Society
Daniel Fils-Aimé, Sr., Chairman
8340 NE 2nd Avenue, Suite 222
Miami, FL 33138
Tel: (786) 621-0035
E-mail: hahs@haitianhistory.org

You can help the Savannah Monument Project by becoming a member of the Haitian American Historical Society, making a tax-deductible charitable contribution to the society, and/or purchasing project-related promotional products from our online store in order to support this wonderful project.

Your tax-deductible contributions may be sent payable to Haitian American Historical Society at: