Saturday 16 May 2020

AHPC X - Haitian Revolution - Saint-Domingue Chasseurs



The British suffered terrible losses due to malaria and yellow fever in the Caribbean. The authorities were driven to desperate measures to find men to fight Toussaint Louveture's French Republican army of black slaves. So they raised units of armed black slaves themselves to act as Chasseurs in Sanite Domingue, the good performance of units led by Kina and Dessources led to a general levy of Chasseur Corps in June 1795.


While they served the slaves were paid and fed as British soldiers and were allowed prize money as were the white troops. After 5 years of service they would gain their freedom.


By June 1798 they formed the bilk of the colonial troops in British Haiti. Their uniform consisted of
a round hat with a cockade and plume, a red jacket with collar and cuffs of a facing colour of the Colonels choice, a shirt and course trousers.


The Haitian Revolution is a rather complicated period which consists of 4 separate wars. 

1791-1793 
Ex Slaves, French Royalists and Spain against Slave owners, Kingdom of France (until 92), French Republic.

1793-1798
French Royalists, Great Britain and Spain (until 1796) against France and ex slaves

1798-1801
Lovertures Loyalists against Rigard's Loyalists and Spain

1802-1804
Ex slaves and Great Britain against France, Polish Legions, Swiss Confederation and Spain.

See what I mean? I'm looking to concentrate on the first 2 wars, but you know what its like? I'll probably end up doing far too many figures and crossing all 4 wars. I do quite like the sound of Polish troops in sombreros!!


This fine body of men earned me 60 points for the Challenge back in March!!

35 comments:

  1. Interesting stuff Ray. The project and the troops are shaping up nicely.

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  2. Nicely done. And interesting history as well.

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  3. A good looking dozen, Haitians! You could expand this project to include fighting during these same periods on other a Caribbean islands including St. Kitts and Nevis.

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    1. Ready up on the period, it's quite amazing just how many of the other Caribbean Islands had a slave revolt, so yes it does open up other interesting choices.

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  4. Just go for it.
    I wonder how many gained their freedom?

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  5. Two tours as West Indies Guardship last century, a lot easier then, the rum kept the fever away. Great project Ray.

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  6. Polish troops in sombreros! Now that´s something I have to see. I had a look at the Trent minis range (they are trent or?) Have you got the Marie-Jeanne Lamartiniére fig ?

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    1. I have its here on a previous post. https://onelover-ray.blogspot.com/2020/04/ahpc-x-25mm-haitian-commanders.html

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    2. I reckoned you would have. Missed it..sorry- her, sorry, them.

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  7. Nice work as usual Ray. Thanks to your posts I’m learning a lot on an otherwise obscure theatre.

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  8. Very nicely done Ray, lovely painting, uniform...and hat!

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  9. Great job on the miniatures! I’m afraid of what it says about me to admit that seeing dark skinned men in the British redcoat uniform is a little odd to me. The Haitian revolution is an unique theater to focus upon. 😀

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    1. Certainly is a strange one Stew, that's why I picked it.

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  10. Loving the top hats ! There can't be that many wars where the particpants looked so well dresssd!
    I do like the history snippets too - great stuff Ray.

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    1. Thanks Joe. I do like to give a little background on units when I can.

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  11. Great stuff Ray. I always like to see unusual units and Afro Carribean Brits certainly fall into that category! Don't worry about potential scope creep...that happens on every project!

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  12. Fabulous Ray, a great little war on the side. One of the d'Hercé members who lived in our house fought there with the French Loyalists! I will find the info and send it to you.

    Cheers
    Matt

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  13. Malaria served them right, what were they even doing on a foreign island? /it's a rhetorical question/ :)

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