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Haitian Monument in Franklin Square

Posted by
Steven (Chicagoland, United States) on 18 December 2019 in Art & Design and Portfolio.

Savannah’s Haitian Monument commemorates the contribution of the Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue to the fight for an independent America. One of the few black regiments to fight for the American side in the Revolutionary War, the soldiers were recruited from present-day Haiti, then the French colony of Saint-Domingue. The Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue were all volunteer soldiers, ten companies of light infantry recruited from amongst the free men of color, as they were then termed, in the former French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti).

The men were enlisted as a special expeditionary force, part of a contingent of French troops brought into the southern theater of the Revolutionary War under the command of the French general Charles Hector, the comte d’Estaing, to reinforce the flagging American side. Though seldom commemorated, black and African-American soldiers participated in their thousands in the Revolutionary War, both as patriots and loyalists. Many were former slaves offered their freedom in exchange for military service; others, such as the Chasseurs-Volontaires, enlisted as free men.

In the early years of the war, African-American soldiers served in the New England militia, fighting at Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill. With the creation of the Continental Army, tensions rose over the inclusion of black men in the American forces. Southern slaveholders were unwilling to arm their slaves, fearing an uprising. The resulting ban on enlisting black soldiers led many African-American men to fight for the British instead, who offered freedom and wages in return for service. By the end of the war about 20,000 black soldiers were fighting for the British side.

A shortage of white recruits brought an end to the American ban on black soldiers, a policy which had always had its opponents (including Continental Army General Nathanael Greene, whose monument stands a few blocks over in Johnson Square). Southern slaveholders continued to resist the enlistment of their slaves.

Recruitment for the Chasseurs-Volontaires was straightforward, with more men signing up than were required. Soldiers came from all walks of life. Some of the men were members of Saint-Domingue’s black elite, for whom signing up may have been a way to express their masculinity and patriotism. Men from less well-to-do backgrounds may have primarily enlisted for the pay, which was the same as that offered to regular (white) French troops. After a several-year term of service, many could hope to have accrued enough money to pay for some land or a start in a trade.

A close-up of the statues will be seen on December 23, 2019.

Photo captured October 6, 2019.

NIKON D7000 1/180 second F/6.7 ISO 200 45 mm (35mm equiv.)

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Spotlight Images

Devi from Chennai, India

Very interesting information here .
Lovely image too. ..with all those " aiming " soldiers up the podium.
Awaiting the closeups of the same :)))))

18 Dec 2019 5:51am

By Marie from Entre By Marie et Montagnes, France

A beautiful tribute to "chasseurs volontaires"

18 Dec 2019 6:03am

Jypyä Pop from Turku, Finland

An interesting history.

18 Dec 2019 6:12am

Ginnie Hart from Netherlands

I love that this part of our history has been so well-documented in this square, Steven. Thanks for helping to preserve it.

18 Dec 2019 6:27am

jpla from St Barthélémy, France

bel hommage
JP

18 Dec 2019 7:36am

Pascale MD from Occitanie, France

Merci pour les photos et les explications jointes.
Bonne journée Steven

18 Dec 2019 8:29am

Libouton Martine from Bousval, Belgium

Un très beau monument souvenir

18 Dec 2019 8:46am

Ronnie 2¢ from Atlantic Shores, United Kingdom

Everything looks 'right' in this . . a belonging.

18 Dec 2019 8:46am

Hiro from Kyoto, Japan

long history...

18 Dec 2019 9:11am

Existence Artistique from Angers, France

oh là ça tire

18 Dec 2019 10:02am

Shaun from Massachusetts, United States

A real interesting monument Steven. Excellent picture.

18 Dec 2019 10:06am

willy from Belgium

un bel hommage Steven

et merci pour les explications

greetings

18 Dec 2019 10:28am

grouser from Ludlow, United Kingdom

Well we all make mistakes :) Your usual excellent combination of documentary photograph and background info

18 Dec 2019 10:48am

Claudine/canelle from Lorient, France

Ce memorial est vraiment superbe !!!!
Merci pour toutes les explications
Bonne journée

18 Dec 2019 1:48pm

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

Lovely capture of this beautiful piece of art.

18 Dec 2019 2:27pm

Ruthiebear from Titusville, NJ, United States

Thank you for all of this information. I was very curious to see this close up. I appreciate it.

18 Dec 2019 2:52pm

Nicou from Sion, Switzerland

Quelle statue et ces soldats avec les inscriptions fantastique
belle soirée

18 Dec 2019 3:30pm

Rose from United States

I am embarrassed to say I did not know this....it is all so interesting to me.

18 Dec 2019 3:34pm

London Caller from United Kingdom

France & the USA, BFF!
Even got the Statue of Liberty from them.

18 Dec 2019 3:47pm

Remus from Portugal

Beautiful surroundings and beautiful sculptural work.

18 Dec 2019 4:44pm

Don from Spokane, United States

A fine history with a great looking picture.

18 Dec 2019 5:09pm

Mhelene from Villiers-sur-Marne, France

Beautiful photo and superb tribute !

18 Dec 2019 6:21pm

Marjolein from Westvoorne, Netherlands

What an information, great to trad.
Very fine log

18 Dec 2019 6:25pm

Marjolein from Westvoorne, Netherlands

What an information, great to trad.
Very fine log

18 Dec 2019 6:25pm

Steve Rice from Olympia, United States

A beautiful monument set off nicely by the trees. A most interesting history you share with us. As to discrimination in the ranks I know, from what I saw in the mid-1960s, that certain high ranking NCOs were still very biased rather openly. Many others weren't of course. Among commissioned officers, I didn't see this blatant bias.

18 Dec 2019 6:45pm

sherri from Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

an exceptional monument surrounded by the unmistakably Savannah trees. (nice that you included to history)

18 Dec 2019 8:55pm

tataray from Charentes-Poitou, France

Un bel hommage. Superbe monument bien mis en valeur.

18 Dec 2019 9:10pm

Elaine Hancock from Olney, United States

What an amazing history. I had never heard about this. I am glad that there is a statue dedicated to these brave soldiers.

19 Dec 2019 12:15am

Michael Rawluk from Williams Lake, BC, Canada

That is a nice write up.

19 Dec 2019 12:27am

Harry from Apex, NC, United States

a stirring monument and a fine history lesson

19 Dec 2019 1:52am

B. Thomas from Arlington, Texas, United States

Interesting monument. Nice shot.

19 Dec 2019 3:26am

jeanmadis from Chonburi, Thailand

Très beau ce mémorial, avec ce groupe de statues qui rend un bel hommage à ceux qui l'ont bien mérités !

20 Dec 2019 2:31am

Sam from Chennai, India

A fine picture of this great monument. And interesting information on the history. Excellent. :)

20 Dec 2019 5:55pm

yo from Ile de France, France

Je suis en retard, mais je prends le temps de lire toutes les descriptions. Des documents très intéressants !

20 Dec 2019 8:38pm

The Yum List from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Oh gee, I don't know many jobs these days that would give enough money to buy a piece of land after a few years.

23 Dec 2019 9:40pm