"Chasseurs Volontaires de Saint-Domingue" Topic

This is a great job!

"This was a really interesting regiment of the French Army. It was established by Royal Ordinance of March 12, 1779 and was to consist of free coloured men (gens de couleur) and freed slaves of the colony of Saint-Domingue . Although it was a regiment of coloured troops, the officers were Whites, with the exception of its commander, Laurent François Lenoir, Marquis de Rouvray. Second in command was a white officer, Major General François, Vicomte de Fontanges…."

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Amicalement
Armand

Fascinating and very informative post. Doing the historical research and then extensive conversion work to create a unique unit of figs is something I'm doing as well, currently for French and Spanish AWI period in 15mm.
A lot of creative work, but tremendously satisfying when you complete a unit.

From Rene Chartrand's The French Army in the American War of Independence, 34:

'The Chasseurs-volontaires de Saint-Domingue (12 March 1779-c.1783) wore a blue coat with yellow standing collar, green s, blue lapels, white turnbacks and white metal buttons, green epaulettes, white waistcoat and breeches, hat laced black with a white and yellow plume.'

And from page 40:

'This was the first black unit of full-time serving free black troops to be sent into action in the annals of the French forces. The siege of Savannah was a failure, but the black troops earned distinction by successfully covering the re-embarkation of the French army. Part of the corps was disbanded, but a detachment of 148 men arrived on the island of Grenada on 1 December 1779 and was reported still there in August 1782. A 20-man detachment is also reported serving as marines on board Le Citoyen during 1780.'

The reference cited is Loix et constitutions de colonies francaise de l'Amerique sous le vent by Moreau de Saint-Mery, Paris, 1786-1790, volume 5.

Glad you like them my friend!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand