To mark the 211th anniversary of the Battle of Vertières, the President Michel Martelly declared on social media “Tribute to our brave ancestors who bravely led the Battle of Vertières to bequeath us this land […] 211 years after the great epic of Vertières, we must UNIT us to pursue the dream of our illustrious ancestors.”
The Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe declared “A people who did Vetières can not die or hang indefinitely in the wandering paths. Vertières it is education for all. Vertières it is the satisfaction of basic needs and respect for the fundamental right of all. Haiti must move forward! Haiti will move forward: Vertières is our light ! Vertièreis our pillar !” adding “The heroes of Vertières gave us a free and sovereign country, let’s build together the future of our people. On this historic day, I invite my brothers in the opposition to join the effort of national reconstruction. On that glorious day in our history I solemnly appeal to the group of 6 Senators inviting them to vote the electoral law. I call the honorable senators to unlock the democratic process. The opposition must break with the policy of chaos.”
For his part the Ministry of Communications, wrote “If Vertières left a bitter taste in the mouth of the imperialists, Haitians must strive to appreciate it at its true value […] This day that reminds the victory of Vertières is an opportunity for every son of the nation to understand the true scope of our moto.” “With 500,000 blacks over 700 plantations, toiling under the yoke of slavery, Vertières : the revolution was more than necessary […] The reasons for erasing memories of November 18 have their roots in the internal struggles and selfishness. Crowd together! Time is no longer to the infighting. We must divorced from the old practices following the example of unity of our fathers to Vertières,” added Minister Rudy Hérivaux.
“The Battle of Vertières: The surprising resistance of rebel troops led by General Jean-Jacques Dessalines, leader independence, born slave and the contribution of the 9th Brigade commanded by François Capois aka Capois La mort to the final victory, forced the General Rochambeau to capitulate. The Union is strength ! In this 211th anniversary of the Battle of Vertières, day of communion with the Great Ancestors, the President of the Republic, Michel Martelly and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe invite you to open a new chapter in the history of this great land. It is imperative that we relearn to live together in Harmony and Peace to focus on what unites us, brings us closer and unites us in order to walk together to the new Haiti that we have all in our dreams for ages. Vive Vertières! Vive Haiti! declared Calvin Cadet, Special Adviser, Political Communication, Republic of Haiti.
Because of planned demonstrations and for security reasons, the movements of the Head of State and Prime Minister for the activities to commemorate the 211th anniversary of the Battle of Vertières, are not yet known precisely.
What we know, waiting for the message to the Nation by the President of the Republic is that there will be no ceremony in Vertières and a floral offering is planned at the Museum of Haitian National Pantheon (MUPANAH) this Tuesday morning around 10:00 am, information confirmed by Lucien Jura, the spokesman of the presidency.
The Prime Minister today for his part will proceed today to the laying of the foundation stone of the Lycée René Théodore of Ouanaminthe.
A little history :
“The Battle of Vertières (Northern Haiti) is the last battle of the indigenous army against the powerful French army of Napoleon Bonaparte. It opposed the troops (about 2,000 men) commanded by French General Donatien to the indigenous independentist army of General Jean-Jacques Dessalines (about 27,000 men, including the 9th Brigade of commanded by François Capois), who won the final victory, forcing Rochambeau to capitulate.
November 18, 1803, General Dessalines ordered to take the fort de Vertières, located on a hill next to the city of Cap-Haitien. François Capois aka Capois-la-Mort commanded a half-brigade which was partly decimated by gunfire from the fort. He made a another assault, but his men were still broke at the foot of the hill by shrapnel. Capois ran to get reinforcements and for the third time, he threw his forces to attack the fort in vain and leaving again many deaths. In the fourth attack, the horse of Capois was hit by a cannon ball, down, Capois took his sword, got up and ran to get once again at the head of his soldiers, shouting “Forward! Forward !”. To strengthen the depleted battalions Capois-la-Mort, Dessalines sent reinforcements under the command of General Gabart, Clervaux and Jean-Philippe Daut. In mid-afternoon, Gabart took position on the hill of Charrier with Benjamin Noel.
The fighting redoubled and the evening, 1,200 French soldiers were killed or wounded [1,200 dead and 2,000 wounded on the Haitian side].
The next day a French officer, Duveyrier, go to the sentinel of Capois and was taken to the Headquarters of the Haitian army. Talks with Dessalines lasted a full day and before nightfall, an agreement was signed. Rochambeau got ten days to evacuate the fort of Vertières and embark the remains of his army and leave Santo Domingo.
