François Capois
Encyclopedia
François Capois (1766 – October 19, 1806) 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
. Then under the colonel Jacques Maurepas
he was a member of the 9th brigade. His rank in the army changed quickly, first to Lieutenant then Captain of the 3rd Battalion. He participated under general Jacques Maurepas
against all expeditions and invasions in the North East
area. Capois is mostly known for his extraordinary courage and especially his herculean bravery at the Battle of Vertières
in which the French general Viscount of Rochambeau, commander of Napoleon's army at St. Domingue, even called a brief cease-fire to congratulate him.
dispatched General Clauzel against Port-de-Paix
which Capois was forced to evacuate, but the fearless black general redeemed his defeat by storming the Petit-Fort where he captured the ammunition, of which he was in great need. After his success at Petit-Fort, he decided to attack Tortuga island. The most difficult problem he had in this attack was how to reach this island without ships. He made up for this lack by building a raft consisting merely of planks held together by lianas. On the night of February 18, 1803, 150 soldiers under the command of Vincent Louis were huddled together on this frail means of transportation in tow of 2 rowboats. They fell unexpectedly on the garrison of Tortuga and for a while seemed to be the conquerors. But the French, who soon got over their surprise, rallied and defeated Vincent Louis, who succeeded in making his escape with some of his companions. The unfortunate blacks who were taken prisoner by the French were tortured to death in expiation of the audacious attempt. The failure did not discourage the energy of Capois. On April 12, 1803, Capois stormed Port-de-Paix
, and soon after, Vincent Louis on his raft was again on his way to Tortuga. He succeeded this time in taking possession of the island, which the French never recovered.
had ordered Capois to take Vertières, a fort situated upon the mount. Capois-la-Mort advanced with a demi-brigade which, horribly multilated, soon recoiled before the cannon fire coming from the fort. He led it back for a second time, but was again driven to the bottom of the hill by the mitrailleuse. Boiling with rage, Capois ran to seek other new troops and, mounting his horse, advanced for the third time; again the thousand deaths that vomited from the fortress repulsed him and his brigade. Now for the fourth time, he asked his men to follow him by saying "Forward! forward!." While he was at the head of his men, his horse was hit by a cannonball—he fell, but Capois took his sword, got up, and ran to place himself again at the head of his black soldiers by shouting "Forward! Forward!" His cap, garnished with plumes, was carried away by a shot. He replied to the insult which left him hatless by drawing his sword and again throwing himself into the assault. Observing this, Rochambeau
and his men shouted: "Bravo! bravo! bravo!" The firing in the fort ceased. Suddenly, the battle was still. A French staff officer mounted his horse and rode toward the intrepid Capois-la-Mort. 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. The next morning a French officer followed by his companions led to the headquarters of the Haitian army a horse caparisoned, and delivered him with these words: "The Captain-general (Rochambeau) offers this horse as a mark of admiration to the "black Achilles
" to replace the one of his that the French army regrets having killed."
He was born in Port-de-Paix
Port-de-Paix
Port-de-Paix is a city and the capital of the département of Nord-Ouest in Haïti on the Atlantic coast. It has a population of 250,000 ....
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
Port-de-Paix
Port-de-Paix is a city and the capital of the département of Nord-Ouest in Haïti on the Atlantic coast. It has a population of 250,000 ....
. Then under the colonel Jacques Maurepas
Jacques Maurepas
Jacques Maurepas was the commander of the town of Port-de-Paix in the northeast of St. Domingue which is now Haiti at the time when Napoleon sent a large army led by his brother-in-law general Charles Leclerc to overthrow Toussaint Louverture....
he was a member of the 9th brigade. His rank in the army changed quickly, first to Lieutenant then Captain of the 3rd Battalion. He participated under general Jacques Maurepas
Jacques Maurepas
Jacques Maurepas was the commander of the town of Port-de-Paix in the northeast of St. Domingue which is now Haiti at the time when Napoleon sent a large army led by his brother-in-law general Charles Leclerc to overthrow Toussaint Louverture....
against all expeditions and invasions in the North East
Nord-Est Department
Nord-Est is one of the ten departments of Haiti. It has an area of 1,805 km² and a population of 283,800 . Its capital is Fort-Liberté. It used to be part of Nord Department...
area. Capois is mostly known for his extraordinary courage and especially his herculean bravery at the Battle of Vertières
Battle of Vertières
The Battle of Vertières , 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...
in which the French general Viscount of Rochambeau, commander of Napoleon's army at St. Domingue, even called a brief cease-fire to congratulate him.
Capturing of Port-de-Paix and Tortuga Island (L'ile de la Tortue)
After receiving new troops from France, RochambeauRochambeau
Rochambeau may refer to:* French soldiers:** Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau , French nobleman and soldier who participated in the American Revolutionary War...
dispatched General Clauzel against Port-de-Paix
Port-de-Paix
Port-de-Paix is a city and the capital of the département of Nord-Ouest in Haïti on the Atlantic coast. It has a population of 250,000 ....
which Capois was forced to evacuate, but the fearless black general redeemed his defeat by storming the Petit-Fort where he captured the ammunition, of which he was in great need. After his success at Petit-Fort, he decided to attack Tortuga island. The most difficult problem he had in this attack was how to reach this island without ships. He made up for this lack by building a raft consisting merely of planks held together by lianas. On the night of February 18, 1803, 150 soldiers under the command of Vincent Louis were huddled together on this frail means of transportation in tow of 2 rowboats. They fell unexpectedly on the garrison of Tortuga and for a while seemed to be the conquerors. But the French, who soon got over their surprise, rallied and defeated Vincent Louis, who succeeded in making his escape with some of his companions. The unfortunate blacks who were taken prisoner by the French were tortured to death in expiation of the audacious attempt. The failure did not discourage the energy of Capois. On April 12, 1803, Capois stormed Port-de-Paix
Port-de-Paix
Port-de-Paix is a city and the capital of the département of Nord-Ouest in Haïti on the Atlantic coast. It has a population of 250,000 ....
, and soon after, Vincent Louis on his raft was again on his way to Tortuga. He succeeded this time in taking possession of the island, which the French never recovered.
Battle of Vertières
On November 18, 1803, Jean-Jacques DessalinesJean-Jacques Dessalines
Jean-Jacques Dessalines was a leader of the Haitian Revolution and the first ruler of an independent Haiti under the 1801 constitution. Initially regarded as Governor-General, Dessalines later named himself Emperor Jacques I of Haiti...
had ordered Capois to take Vertières, a fort situated upon the mount. Capois-la-Mort advanced with a demi-brigade which, horribly multilated, soon recoiled before the cannon fire coming from the fort. He led it back for a second time, but was again driven to the bottom of the hill by the mitrailleuse. Boiling with rage, Capois ran to seek other new troops and, mounting his horse, advanced for the third time; again the thousand deaths that vomited from the fortress repulsed him and his brigade. Now for the fourth time, he asked his men to follow him by saying "Forward! forward!." While he was at the head of his men, his horse was hit by a cannonball—he fell, but Capois took his sword, got up, and ran to place himself again at the head of his black soldiers by shouting "Forward! Forward!" His cap, garnished with plumes, was carried away by a shot. He replied to the insult which left him hatless by drawing his sword and again throwing himself into the assault. Observing this, Rochambeau
Rochambeau
Rochambeau may refer to:* French soldiers:** Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau , French nobleman and soldier who participated in the American Revolutionary War...
and his men shouted: "Bravo! bravo! bravo!" The firing in the fort ceased. Suddenly, the battle was still. A French staff officer mounted his horse and rode toward the intrepid Capois-la-Mort. 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. The next morning a French officer followed by his companions led to the headquarters of the Haitian army a horse caparisoned, and delivered him with these words: "The Captain-general (Rochambeau) offers this horse as a mark of admiration to the "black Achilles
Achilles
In Greek mythology, Achilles was a Greek hero of the Trojan War, the central character and the greatest warrior of Homer's Iliad.Plato named Achilles the handsomest of the heroes assembled against Troy....
" to replace the one of his that the French army regrets having killed."
External links
- Francois Capois The Louverture-project.
- Francois Capois and the battle of Vertiere By William Leslie Balan-Gaubert