Real Super Heros: Haiti’s Chassuier Volunteer de Saint Dominique at The Battle of Savannah part 1
As an African-Haitian, I am extremely proud to speak on behalf of my courageous ancestors, The Chassuier Voluntter de Saint Dominique.The aforementioned term simply means “Volunteer Soldiers of Saint Dominique,” which is modern-day Haiti. A big chunk of history has been found missing in each history book because they conveniently neglected to mention or speak of the brave 545 Haitian soldiers that fought for the freedom of America on the 9thof October, 1779, during one of the bloodiest battle of the American Revolutionary War – The Siege of Savannah.
Furthermore, what many of us don’t know is that Savannah happens to be the oldest and the first city in Georgia. The Savannah ports allowed the shipment of goods and stolen people from Africa into the country and were terrorized to work endless hours. Europeans, Americans, and the Portuguese, to name a few, worked our African Ancestor’s fingers to the bone or until their deaths. Before President Donald Trump opens his mouth to talk down on Haiti, he should be kissing our feet. The soldiers represented the largest group of black soldiers to fight in the American Revolutionary War. If it weren’t for the The Chassuier Voluntter de Saint Dominique of Haiti, hundreds, if not thousands of French and American lives wouldn’t have been saved from the bayonets of the British. While the French and American retreated to safety, the Haitian soldiers provided the necessary cover.
Franco-Americans Causalities:
- 244 killed
- 584 severely wounded
- *60 Haitian soldiers were enslaved
- 120 missing or captured
British Causalities:
-
- 148 died
- 40 killed
- 63 wounded
- 120 missing or captured
Both former Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were both guilty of being massive holders of enslaved Africans (Washington 300 plus – Jefferson with over 600 enslaved Africans). They also knew the history of the Haitians ultimate sacrifice to America’s freedom, yet they each paid France $250,000 (equivalent of $4.8 million in 2019) to defeat and re-establish slavery on the island. However, General Toussaint “Louverture” Breda, Lieutenant Jean Jacque Dessalines, and soon to king, Henry Christophe made sure chattel slavery was abolished sooner than it inevitably ceased.
The Back Story of the Haitian Memorial Monument
Back to the future, on the 26thof October, 2019, I had the privilege of visiting The Chassuier Voluntterde Saint Dominique monument. To my surprise, it’s in the heart of downtown Savannah, Georgia in Franklin Square. It’s where many of their shops and restaurants are located. Now, the story goes that the statue received fierce opposition to being built. On top of that, the proposed position had people of non-African decent pretty angry; mainly from the white community. The original monument had 3 soldiers, and the other three were added by the additional funds pitched in by sponsors. One of them was paid for by a Haitian x-marine officer, who paid $200,000 to have his face on one of the soldiers. Many people from the Haitian community were totally against it but hey money talks a bullshit walks.
By the way, the cost of the Haitian Memorial Monument $750,000 …[read part 2 coming Dec. 7th 2019.]
Historical References:
1. Black Movements In America by Cedric Robinson
2. A Brief History of the Caribbean: From the Arawak and Carib to the Present by Jan Rogozinski
3. Haitian Soldiers in the Siege of Savannah |American Revolutionary War by King Kevin Dorival https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1J6UVYXsfY
4. Battles In Savannah https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/savannah
I’d LOVE to hear your thoughts!