French Cav in Haiti?

[Schogun]

Is there any evidence of the French fielding cavalry during the Haitian Revolution? If so, what uniforms (and colors) did they wear?

I have found only one online reference, that Boukman was captured by French cavalry. But it's only one sentence.

Thanks

[shandy]

Whom do you mean by French? The revolutionaries (that is, the ex-slaves) or Napoleon's troops?

As far as I can remember, Toussaint L'Ouverture fielded dragoons... I don't think it'll be easy to find uniform references for them. I'll try to look when I've got time, I've got a couple of books at home.

EDIT: D'oh, you said they captured Boukman, so they must have been French royalists? Perhaps militia?

[oxiana]

Yes, but very few.

A key point to remember is that the Haitian Revolution lasted 13 years, and comprised a number of smaller conflicts. To the best of my knowledge, when the revolution broke out in August 1791, there were no cavalry units stationed in Saint-Domingue, but the colonial maréchausée (a militia of mostly free coloured troops) were frequently mounted. These may have been the units you have seen mentioned as capturing Boukman in November 1791, though the reference I have to his death says he was killed by the Cap Français regiment (a colonial militia) and doesn't mention cavalry (here, I'm using Fick, 'The Making of Haiti', which cites several primary sources;

During the early years of the revolution, dragoons were sent to Saint-Domingue from France, as well as being recruited locally. In 1799, during the War of the Knives (Toussaint against Rigaud), Toussaint fielded cavalry who were a mix of French and newly-freed Africans. An English observer noted that they lacked carbines and were armed with pistols and sabres only, and dressed in blue coats, cocked hats and half boots, with a minority uniformed as hussars.

In 1802, when Napoleon sent the Leclerc expedition against Toussaint Louverture, the 19th regiment of chasseurs were part of the invading force (though they didn't arrive until late March, as opposed to the beginning February when most troops arrived). All other troops were French regiments of the line. The Osprey 'Napoleon's Overseas Army' has a plate with a colonial dragoon in Saint Domingue, with all-green jacket, round hat, white trousers and green housings etc on the saddle. It notes that as with Toussaint's forces I mentioned above, troops and uniforms were mixed up between what came from France, troops in Saint-Domingue and what supplies were locally available. Which at least gives you a bit of license when it comes to minis... 

I have most of the histories written at the time and there are only limited accounts of mounted troops in action.

[bulldogger2000]

I remember seeing (somewhere) that detachments of Polish Cavalry were sent to Haiti by Napoleon.  I know....not much help. 

[bulldogger2000]

Hey Chuck....here are a couple prints I found on Pinterest.   Not sure if these are helpful or not for you....

[grant]

Dynamite reference.

[Schogun]

Clarification -- the last illustration is of British in Haiti, not French. The picture is labelled as "Britain's French emigre army - Britanniques Uhlan, Gendarmes Royaux Anglais and York Hussars in Haiti during the French Revolutionary War." Taken from Osprey Men at Arms 328 -- "Émigré and Foreign Troops in British Service (1) 1793–1802."