Battle of Vertières
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Vertières (in Haitian Creole
Batay Vètyè), the last major battle of the Second War of Haitian Independence, the final part of the Haitian Revolution
under François Capois
. It was fought between Haitian rebels and French expeditionary forces on 18 November 1803 at Vertières. Vertières is situated in Nord, Haiti, its geographical coordinates are 19° 44' 0" North, 72° 13' 28". By the end of October 1803, Haitian rebels had already took over all the territory from France. The only places left to France were Mole St. Nicolas, held by Noailles, and Cap-Français, where, with 5000 troops, Rochambeau was at bay. With 16,000 men in four columns.
in hand and one epaulette
shot away, repulsed the desperate counterattack. A sudden downpour with thunder and lightning submerged the battlefield. Under cover of the storm, Rochambeau pulled back from Vertières, knowing he was defeated and that Saint-Domingue was lost to France.
Another leader of the fight at Vértieres was Louis Michel Pierrot, the husband of the mambo Cécile Fatiman
who had led the vodou ceremonies at Bois Caïman on 14 August 1791 together with Boukman.
This battle occurred less than two months before Dessalines' proclamation of the independent Republic of Haiti
on 1 January 1804 and delivered the final blow to the French attempt to stop the Haitian Revolution and re-institute slavery, as had been the case in its other Caribbean possessions.
The Battle of Vertières marked the first time in the history of mankind that a slave army led a successful revolution for their freedom.
November 18 has been widely celebrated since then as a Day of Army and Victory in Haiti
.
Haitian Creole language
Haitian Creole language , often called simply Creole or Kreyòl, is a language spoken in Haiti by about twelve million people, which includes all Haitians in Haiti and via emigration, by about two to three million speakers residing in the Bahamas, Cuba, Canada, France, Cayman Islands, French...
Batay Vètyè), the last major battle of the Second War of Haitian Independence, the final part of the Haitian Revolution
Haitian Revolution
The Haitian Revolution was a period of conflict in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, which culminated in the elimination of slavery there and the founding of the Haitian republic...
under François Capois
François Capois
François Capois was a Haitian rebel slave.He was born in Port-de-Paix on the habitation of Laveaux/lapointe. His name was a transformation of the name cappouet, owner of the habitation. His military career began in 1793 after a visit of Toussaint Louverture at Port-de-Paix...
. It was fought between Haitian rebels and French expeditionary forces on 18 November 1803 at Vertières. Vertières is situated in Nord, Haiti, its geographical coordinates are 19° 44' 0" North, 72° 13' 28". By the end of October 1803, Haitian rebels had already took over all the territory from France. The only places left to France were Mole St. Nicolas, held by Noailles, and Cap-Français, where, with 5000 troops, Rochambeau was at bay. With 16,000 men in four columns.
Defeat of the French Army by the Haitian Rebels
After the deportation of Toussaint Louverture in 1802, one of Toussaint's principal lieutenants, Jean Jacques Dessalines, continued the fight for liberty because he remembered the declaration of Toussaint Louverture: “In overthrowing me, you have done no more than cut down the trunk of the tree of the black liberty in St-Domingue it will spring back from the roots, for they are numerous and deep.” Dessalines defeated the French army numerous times but the only place left was Vertières. During the night of 17–18 November 1803, the Haitians positioned their few guns to blast Fort Bréda, located on the habitation where Toussaint Louverture had worked as a coachman under François Capois. As the French trumpets sounded the alarm, Clervaux, a Haitian rebel, fired the first shot. Capoix, mounted on a great horse, led his demibrigade forward despite storms of bullets from the forts on his left. The approach to Charrier ran up a long ravine under the guns of Vertières. French fire killed a number of soldiers in the Haitian column, but the soldiers closed ranks and clambered past their dead, singing. Capoix’s horse got shot, faltered and fell, tossing Capoix off his saddle. Capoix picked himself up, drew his sword; brandished it over his head and ran onward shouting: "Forward! Forward!" Rochambeau was watching from the rampart of Vertières. As Capoix charged forth, the French drums rolled a sudden cease-fire. Suddenly, the battle stood still. A French staff officer mounted his horse and rode toward the intrepid Capoix-la-Mort (Capoix-the Death). With a great voice he shouted: "General Rochambeau sends compliments to the general who has just covered himself with such glory!" Then he saluted the Haitian warriors, returned to his position, and the fight resumed. General Dessalines sent his reserves under Gabart, the youngest of the general and Jean-Philippe Daut, Rochambeau’s guard of grenadiers formed for a final charge. But Gabart, Capoix, and Clervaux, the last fighting with a French musketMusket
A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth bore long gun, fired from the shoulder. Muskets were designed for use by infantry. A soldier armed with a musket had the designation musketman or musketeer....
in hand and one epaulette
Epaulette
Epaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations.Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder strap or "passant", a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam, and the button near the collar, or by laces on the...
shot away, repulsed the desperate counterattack. A sudden downpour with thunder and lightning submerged the battlefield. Under cover of the storm, Rochambeau pulled back from Vertières, knowing he was defeated and that Saint-Domingue was lost to France.
Another leader of the fight at Vértieres was Louis Michel Pierrot, the husband of the mambo Cécile Fatiman
Cécile Fatiman
Cécile Fatiman was an Haitian vodou priestess, a mambo . She is famous for her participation in the vodou ceremony at Bios Caiman, which is considered to be the starting point of the Haitian revolution....
who had led the vodou ceremonies at Bois Caïman on 14 August 1791 together with Boukman.
Results of the Battle
By the next morning, the general Rochambeau sent Duveyrier, to negotiate with Dessalines. At the end of the day, the terms of submission were settled. Rochambeau got ten days to embark the leftovers of his army and leave Saint-Domingue. The wounded French soldiers were left behind under key until well enough for return to France.This battle occurred less than two months before Dessalines' proclamation of the independent Republic of Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
on 1 January 1804 and delivered the final blow to the French attempt to stop the Haitian Revolution and re-institute slavery, as had been the case in its other Caribbean possessions.
The Battle of Vertières marked the first time in the history of mankind that a slave army led a successful revolution for their freedom.
November 18 has been widely celebrated since then as a Day of Army and Victory in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
.
External links
- A Great moment in Haitian History: http://www.ahadonline.org/eLibrary/creoleconnection/Number16/greatmoment.htm
- The Louverture Project: The Battle of Vertières
- The Louverture Project: French Capitulation in Saint-Domingue