Part 1 of British Raised Troops Serving in Saint Domingo
Part 2 of British Raised Troops Serving in Saint Domingo

The Saint Domingue British Legion:

The Grand Anse Legion, a local corps raised in 1794 in the Southern Province being recruited from the survivors of French garrison regiments which had been overwhelmed by the Rebels and from seamen without vessels. This was later re-named The Saint Domingue British Chasseurs, it was one of the better disciplined, organized and equipped local corps that emerged victorious from the forefront of many hard fought engagements. The corps was present at the battle of Fort L'Acul in May 1794 and distinguished itself in numerous skirmishes as part of General Whyte's forces.

In August 1795 the corps was renamed The Saint Dominque British Legion and reorganized as an all-arms formation containing cavalry, artillery and infantry sub-units. In December 1795 the Legion, plus light horse and auxiliary chasseurs was 1049 strong, whilst based at Croix aux Bouquets. In January 1797 it absorbed the remnants of The Saint Dominque British Lancers.

The Legion is said to have been disbanded in May 1797. On the other hand, it is also said to have been reformed as The British Hussars, The British Artillery and The British Grenadiers, who had a continued existance until the British evacuation in October 1798.

The preceeding units were also referred to as The Montalembert Corps/Regiment/Legion, or The De Sers Regiment. They were commanded by Colonel Jean-Charles Montalembert, Baron de Sers, who was a fanatical Royalist. He and his officers had the nasty habit of murdering political opponents in areas where the Legion was stationed. He also had the unpleasant knack of being able to discover "enemies" within the ranks of his own men whenever it became expedient. These unfortunates were given a show trial, found guilty nnd quickly executed. Despite all these faults, Montalembert was an active and brave soldier, who was appointed as local Brigadier General by the British in recognition of his courage (and usefulness}. Vemault de Charmilly is said to have been second-in-command of The Montalembert Legion.

Cavalry Uniform: Light Dragoon helmet, red jacket lined blue, red collar, yellow revers and black cuffs, white waistcoat worn, blue breeches or canvas/duck trousers. Liqht Dragoon horse furniture, armed with Light Dragoon sabre, two pistols, one carbine and a carbine belt. No mention of lances being carried.

Chasseur Uniform: Round hat with black cockade. Red short jacket lined white with red collar, yellow revers and black cuffs, white waistcoat. Corporals had white epaulettes.

Guidons: "To continue to be British colors as sent by General Williamson."

The Kings Black Regiment:

A local black corps under the command of white officers, said to have been 88 men strong in December 1795 whilst stationed at Arcahaye.

The Bussy Black Corps:

A local black corps commanded by Colonel Comte Roland de Bussy, he was a former French Navy officer who had been appointed chief of police at Port au Prince. He acquired a fearsome reputation for corrupt and tyrannical practices.

The Kina Black Corps:

Also known as The Kina Volunteers, or The Kina Chasseurs, commanded by the able and much feared Colonel Jean Kina, with Major Schevenard as second in command.

This corps was raised in 1794 in the Grand Anse district of the Southern Province, with a strength of l70 former black slaves. In December 1795 it was 119 strong while stationed at Port au Prince. In 1797 the corps was re-organized as one black and one mulatto company, these two companies having a total strength of 46 officers and NCOs, and 148 rank and file. The strength appears to have fluctuated between 100 - 500 all ranks.

A fine reputation was initially held by the corps and it distinguished itself at Tiluron in April 1794, and in many other engagements. However, as the war dragged on the corps lost its keen fighting edge and its desertion rate rocketed sky-high.

The Dessources Volunteers:

Also known as The Dessources Chasseurs, or The Dessources Legion, it was a local black corps under white officers, composed of light infantry, it also contained a mounted company. Its title suggests it may have originally been a volunteer unit, but as the war progressed its ranks were fleshed-out with press-ganged plantation slaves. In December 1795 it was 786 strong while it was stationed at Saint Marc in the Western Province.

This unit was one of the best local corps and was to be found in the forefront of any fray, distinguishing itself at Les Hauteurs de Saint Marc in April 1794. Said to have been 500 strong at the storming of Morne L L'Hopital in February 1796. Praised for its conduct during the hard-fought action; in the wilderness above Riviere Froide in April 1797, it also participated in the attack upon Tiberun in June 1798. Dessources is said to have fled to Jamaica in 1798.

The King's Chasseurs:

A local black corps under white officers. In December 1795 it was 80 strong whilst stationed at Mole Saint Nicolas in the Northern Province, noted as being a unit with too many officers and not enough men.

Is this the same unit as the Contades Legion stationed at Mole Saint Nicolas in 1794? If this is the case, its commanding officer may have been either the Marquis de Contades, colonel of the ephemeral Warren Hussars (c.1795), or the Vicomte de Contades, a major in British service from 1793-1796.

Uniform: The black chasseur corps are said to have worn a round hat with a panache (or plume}, a red short jacket, coarse long (white) trousers and armed with a musket and machete.

The Queen's Royal Chasseurs:

A local black corps under white officers. In December 1795 it was 819 strong while stationed at Arcahaye in the Western Province, was it commanded by Colonel Julien de Depestre?

The corps experienced much hard fighting, taking part in the storming of the Morne L'Hopital, being noted as having repulsed a rebel attack on Boucassin in February 1798.

Uniform: Probably as the King's Chasseurs, above.

The Prince of Wales's Chasseurs:

A local black corps under white officers, was it commanded by Colonel Vicomte de Bruges? In December 1795 it was 415 strong while stationed at Mirebalais in the Western Province.

Uniform: Probably as the previous two units.

The Royal Chasseurs:

A local black corps under white officers, raised in November 1795 in the Cul de Sac district of the Western Province. Originally consisting of 150 black slaves, in December 1795 it was 677 strong while stationed at Croix aux Bouquets.

Uniform: Probably as previous three units (?)

The Artibonite Chasseurs:

A local black corps under white officers, raised in 1794 in the Artibonite district of the Western Province. In December 1795 it was 100 strong while stationed at Saint Marc.

Was this the same unit as The Cocherel Chasseurs under the command of the Marquis Robert de Cocherel, one-time commandant of Saint Marc?

In 1794 Captain Thomas Brisbane (49th Foot) the garrison commander of Saint Marc, raised a local militia and a black legion which he is said to have commanded. Brisbane, a very able officer, was killed in January 1795 while on reconnaisance.

Uniform: Probably as above.

The Cayemittes Chasseurs:

The Crown Legion, or The Southern Legion, was raised in the Southern Provinces, being commanded by Colonel Marquis de la Rochejacuelein. The Legion consisted of only 31 all ranks all of whom were related to each other! It was understandably disbanded as an unviable military unit.

Rochejacuelein next popped-up as the colonel of The Cayemittes Chasseurs, this was a black corps under white officers which was recruited in the Southern Provinee. It included two flank companies designated as "Du Roi" and "De La Reine" and recruited from "anciens libres". In December 1795 it was 380 strong while stationed at La Crand Anse.

Uniform: Probably as above.

The Irois Chasseurs:

A local black corps under white officers that was recruited in the Southern Province, commanded by Colonel Chevalier de Sevre, who was later replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Henry Bowyer (66th Foot). In December 1795 the unit was 540 strong whilst stationed at La Grand Anse.

Uniform: Probalbly as above.

The Northern Warriors: The Northern Warriors was the collective title used for three black companies under Chiefs Abrahams, Roguelare and Pierre Lesec. They were formed in March 1797 from the remnants of rebel bands in the Northern Province, that had been dispersed by British-Royalist forces. They were presented with colours by General Simcoe. Was this the same unit as The Northern Chasseurs?

The Saint Dominque Royal Militia:

The colony was divided into three provinces - Northern (Cap Francois), Western (Port au prince) and Southern (les Cayes). In turn, the provinces were broken down into districts which were used to provide the framework for the formation of a local militia.

During their occupation, the British endeavoured to organise a Royalist Militia in those districts which had not been overrun by the rebel armies. The units so formed tenden to fight reasonably well in defence of their own area and property, or when they were supported by the British regular forces. They could not be relied upon to function in an independent role and were very subject to sudded bolts of panic.

The Saint Nicolas Militia was described as: "bred up in ease and luxury and since worn down by anxiety and dismay."

The Leagrane Militia fought well at Fort L'Acul in May 1794 when the action took place in the vicinity of its own town, but lacked the discipline and endurance to operate at a distance and consequently gave up the control of the plain to the enemy.

There is no mention of a Horse Militia of the plain.

In December 1795 the strength of the Militia was as follows:

Mole Saint Nicolas	Militia	113 men
Saint Marc	Militia	373 men
Mirebalais	Militia	960 men
Grands Bois	Militia	91 men
Croix aux Bouquets	Militia	307 men
Port au Prince	Militia	644 men
La Grand Anse	Militia	1500 men
Arcahaye	Militia	551 men

Grand Total: 4,539 men

More British Raised Troops

Part 1 of British Raised Troops Serving in Saint Domingo
Part 2 of British Raised Troops Serving in Saint Domingo
Part 3 of British Raised Troops Serving in Saint Domingo

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