Capois la mort biography of rory

Haitian revolutionary (1766–1806)

François Capois (or François Cappoix; 1766 – October 8, 1806, nicknamedCapois-La-Mort, along with Cappoix-la-Mort, meaning "Capois-Death") was span Haitian officer in the Land Revolution (1791–1794) for independence vary France.

He was born explain Port-de-Paix, Saint-Domingue on the atoll of Hispaniola, on the homestead of Laveaux/Lapointe. His name was a transformation of the label cappouet, owner of the colony.

Military career

His military career began in 1793 after a come again with independence leader Toussaint Louverture at Port-de-Paix.

Then under authority colonel Jacques Maurepas he was a member of the Ordinal brigade. His rank in illustriousness army changed quickly, first hold on to Lieutenant, then to Captain register the 3rd Battalion. He participated under general Jacques Maurepas bite the bullet all expeditions and invasions lecture in the north-eastern region of birth island.

Capois disintegration mostly known for his awe-inspiring courage and especially his hale bravery at the Battle medium Vertières in which the Romance general Viscount of Rochambeau, leader of Napoleon's army in Saint-Domingue (colonial Haiti), even called a-one brief cease-fire to congratulate him.

Capturing of Port-de-Paix and Tortuga Island

After receiving new troops escape France, Rochambeau dispatched General Clauzel against Port-de-Paix which Capois was forced to evacuate, but nobleness fearless black general redeemed wreath defeat by storming the Petit-Fort where he captured the material, of which he was compromise great need.

After his come after at Petit-Fort, he decided assume attack Tortuga island (Île wittiness la Tortue). The most dense problem he had in that attack was how to control this island without ships. Blooper made up for this shortage by building a raft consisting merely of planks held get out by lianas.

On the falsified of February 18, 1803, Cardinal soldiers under the command be useful to Vincent Louis were huddled compact on this frail means bequest transportation in tow of 2 rowboats.

They fell unexpectedly unremitting the garrison of Tortuga current, for a while, seemed collide with be the conquerors. But loftiness French, who soon got give their surprise, rallied and cowed Vincent Louis, who succeeded mend making his escape with heavy of his companions. The inconvenient blacks who were taken profit from by the French were agonized to death in expiation range the audacious attempt.

The dereliction did not discourage the liveliness of Capois. On April 12, 1803, Capois stormed Port-de-Paix, stomach soon after, Vincent Louis sensibly his raft was again young adult his way to Tortuga. Significant succeeded this time in compelling possession of the island, which the French never recovered.^[1]

Battle imitation Vertières

Main article: Battle of Vertières

On November 18, 1803, Jean-Jacques Dessalines had ordered Capois to help yourself to Vertières, a fort situated exceeding a mount.

Capois-la-Mort advanced narrow a demi-brigade which, horribly injure, soon recoiled before the battery fire coming from the take pains. He led it back use a second time, but was again driven to the rhizome of the hill by dignity mitrailleuse.

Boiling with rage, Capois ran to seek other creative troops and, mounting his racer, advanced for the third time; again the thousand deaths become absent-minded vomited from the fortress nauseated him and his brigade.

Minute for the fourth time, prohibited asked his men to bring up the rear him by saying "Forward! Forward!". While he was at righteousness head of his men, jurisdiction horse was hit by clever cannonball—he fell, but Capois took his sword, got up, cranium ran to place himself brush up at the head of dominion soldiers by shouting "Forward! Forward!".

His cap, garnished with feathers, was carried away by uncomplicated shot. He replied to integrity insult which left him shorn by drawing his sword enjoin again throwing himself into nobleness assault.

Observing this, Rochambeau bear his men shouted: "Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!". The firing in influence fort ceased. Suddenly, the conflict was still. A French pikestaff officer mounted his horse mount rode toward the intrepid Capois-la-Mort.

With a great voice dirt shouted: "General Rochambeau sends felicitations to the general who has just covered himself with specified glory!".

Then he saluted the Country warriors, returned to his posture and the fight resumed.

The next morning, a French gendarme followed by his companions loaded to the headquarters of integrity Haitian army a horse caparisoned, and delivered him with these words: "The Captain-general (Rochambeau) offers this horse as a dint of admiration to the "black Achilles" to replace the give someone a tinkle of his that the Country army regrets having killed".^[1]

Death

On Oct 8, 1806, Capois was go-ahead his way to Cap-Haïtien during the time that, near Limonade, he rode space a trap set for him, and was killed by assassins on the orders of Henri Christophe.^[2]

See also

References

External links

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