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Joseph Savary: A Black Army hero at the Battle of New Orleans [1]

['Tammy C. Barney', 'More Tammy C. Barney', 'Verite News']

Date: 2024-04-17  

When the Battle of New Orleans was fought in 1815, free men of color fought valiantly against the British. One in particular became the first Black officer in the U.S. Army.

Joseph Savary was a warrior. Born in 1770 in French colony Saint-Domingue, Savary fought for France during the Haitian Revolution before fleeing to New Orleans with other Haitians.

Based on his reputation as a soldier, Gen. Andrew Jackson asked Savory to lead the Second Battalion, Free Men of Color of the Louisiana Militia, according to Black Past. The 256-member battalion was inducted into service on Dec. 19, 1814. Savary, a captain, was promoted to second major.

Under his leadership, the Second Battalion successfully pushed back the British in its first battle on Dec. 23, 1814. However, when it came time for the Battle of New Orleans on Jan. 8, Jackson sidelined them. Savary and his men refused to be held back.

“They ripped into the advance, and the British commanding general was reportedly shot down by one of Savary’s men,” according to the African American Veterans Monument video, “The Saviors of New Orleans.” “British forces were utterly routed in one of the biggest victories of the war.”

Despite praising the Second Battalion for its courage and perseverance, Jackson ordered the Black troops to leave New Orleans because white residents thought having armed Black people in the city “might destabilize slavery and lead to a general uprising,” Black Past states.

Outraged, Savary and his troops joined the Mexican rebels who were fighting for their nation’s independence. Before leaving New Orleans, Savary organized a victory parade for his troops. “He ensured that the citizens of New Orleans would see the Black heroes who had fought, bled and died in their defense,” according to the video.

Savary died in 1822.

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[1] Url: https://veritenews.org/2024/04/17/joseph-savary-a-black-army-hero-at-the-battle-of-new-orleans/

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