Remembering Those Who Served in the American Revolutionary War at the Battle of Savannah

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Memorial dedicated to those
 who fought and died at the
Battle of Savannah, Ga.
October 9,1779

         The Coastal Heritage Society held its annual Battlefield March to commemorate the 1779 Battle of Savannah this weekend.

Michael Nolden Henderson
LCDR, USN Retired
Member of the
Button Gwinnett Chapter,
Sons of the American Revolution

   
         On October 9, 2010, many turned out to honor those who fought and died at the Battle of Savannah. I, as a descendant of American Revolutionary War Patriot, Mathieu Devaux dit Platilla, and also a retired U.S. Naval Officer, was honored when the Button Gwinnett Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution asked me to render honors by placing the wreath at a memorial, which honored those who fought and died at the Battle of Savannah, Ga October 9, 1779, 231 years ago. 

Many in period uniforms
gathered to re-enact
the march to the battlefield

       Participants gathered at 7:15 a.m. in the parking lot of the Savanna Visitor's Center, and marched behind re-enactors to Battlefield Memorial Park. The route followed that of American and French soldiers who attacked British fortifications in the battle.

 Hunter Army Airfield Garrison Commander
Lt. Col. Jose Aguilar 

         A brief ceremony took place on the battlefield, and included remarks from Hunter Army Airfield Garrison Commander Lt. Col. Jose Aguilar, a 21-gun cannon salute from the 3rd Infantry Division salute battery, and the placing of wreaths at the foot of the memorial.

      Other dignitaries who also presented wreaths were:

Consulat General de France
Etienne Abobi
Deputy Consul

  

A delegation of 30 Mayors from Haiti
gathered for the ceremony

Various chapters of both the DAR and SAR
present wreaths

    Later that morning several members of various groups participated in another ceremony in Franklin Square to commemorate the Haitian Memorial Monument. Special guests included the former mayor of Savannah Floyd Adams, Jr., Alderman District 5 Clifton Jones, Jr., 30 mayors from Haiti, and President and CEO, Physician Access Urgent Care Group Dr. Rudolph Moise, just to name a few.

The Haitian Memorial Monument
Franklin Square
Savannah, Ga

       This monument represents the Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue, a regiment of soldiers who formed one-tenth of the allied army before Savannah in the fall of 1779. This unit was comprised of over 500 free men of color from the Island of Haiti and was the largest unit of men of African descent to fight in the American Revolution.

HR 9093 - Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint Domingue

Resolution   by Brisé

Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue: Honors Haitian soldiers of Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue unit for their bravery & sacrifices in support of United States of America in its War of Independence.

Effective Date: Not Specified

Last Event: Adopted by Publication on Wednesday, April 09, 2008 11:49 PM

SAR Compatriot Bruce Maney
laying wreath at foot of
Haitian Memorial Monument

Rendering Honors
Compatriot Bruce Maney
Past President Button Gwinnett Chapter SAR
Compatriot Michael Nolden Henderson, LCDR USN Ret.

Mr. Baunars Charles
Mayor of Saint-Marc and several other Mayors
From Haiti gathered to honor those who served
 the Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue

Members of Button Gwinnett SAR
and their lovely ladies

As We remember, We also honor

Michael visits Colonial Park

     While in Savannah I visited the old colonial park cemetery and located the gravesite of my SAR chapter's namesake, Button Gwinnett, who was the second signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Resting place of Button Gwinnett
one of the signers of the
Declaration of Independence

Michael Nolden Henderson LCDR USN Retired
A descendant of a patriot of the
American Revolution
Mathieu DEVAUX dit Platillo

    To learn more about my American Revolutionary War Patriot Ancestor   Mathieu DEVAUX dit Platillo, Click on his name.
See More here Two years later .