CHASSUERS MONUMENT

The monument to the Chasseurs Volontaires de Saint Domingue was dedicated in 2007. It commemorates the courage and dedication of the over 500 volunteer, free men of African heritage who fought alongside the Americans in the Battle of Savannah in 1779 during the Revolutionary War. At a time when slavery was a way of life in the Americas and in the Caribbean Islands, the fact that these free black men would voluntarily travel to fight is startling not only to ordinary citizens but to historians as well. These men were young and inexperienced, 25 of their fellow soldiers were either wounded or killed. Their names appear on the monument. One of the figures which dominate the monument is that of Henri Christophe. He is portrayed as a drummer, an important role in battle as the drummers give signals and encouragement to the soldiers. Henri Christophe would grow to become an important General in the Haitian Army for Independence. The French Revolution spurred the Haitian people to seek independence. Christophe followed the lead of the Revolutionary Toussain Louverture. Following Haitian independence and the eventual establishment of a constitutional republic, Christophe relegated to minor duties, decided to establish his own rule in northern Haiti. He appointed himself King and, thus, became the first King in the western hemisphere. He restored many soldiers to their former rank and social position and maintained general prosperity in his regime. He built the famous fortress, Citaldel Laferriére. After suffering a paralytic stroke and in despair over not being able to pacify his people, he took his own life. His kingdom then became part of the Haitian Republic. Each year, in early October the HAHS organizes a weekend-long celebration of the valiant Haitian soldiers who fought at the Battle of Savannah. The HAHS brings together the Haitian community of North America as well as tourists from around the world to learn about the rich cultural history of the Haitian people as well as their contributions to the history of North America. Very little is truly widely known about the influence of the Haitian people on the rest of North America. This weekend celebration features the Haitian contributions to our communities; Haitian cuisine, dance and art, and of course the rich cultural heritage passed down to the youth of today. This celebration, along with many other educational opportunities enables the HAHS to engender pride in the Haitian community and understanding among all cultures of North America.