"FREEDOM, THE APEX"
In May of 1803, with almost the whole country under the control of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Henri Christophe, and Alexandre Petion, the Haitians carried more ferocious attacks than ever before. By August 1803, the French Army, after losing most of its soldiers, had become very weak. As of October 11, 1803, they had control over two cities only: Cap-Haitian and Mole St Nicolas. At that point, Dessalines immediately established his headquarter in Gonaives in the Central Part of Haiti to plan their last attack towards freedom.
On 13, October 1802, Alexandre Petion, and Jean-Jacques Dessalines, united to ensure that freedom reigned on Haiti's soil. In the meantime, the officers who were stationed at Archaie, a city located 20 miles from Port-Au-Prince, had decided to create the first Haitian Flag, which was: Blue, Red, and White. However, Dessalines had removed the White Color. He had decided to use a flag with two colors: Blue and Red placed vertically, which represented Haitian Mulatoes and darker skin, fighting in unity.
On November 6, 1803, to morally weaken the French Army, had gathered 27,000 men to march for four days to Cap-Haitian. Upon arrival, on November 10, Desssalines and his men, holding the new Haitian Flag, attacked the City. By November 18, one of Dessalines Generals, Clerveaux had finally encircled the French Fortress, "Fort Breda" After intense fighting, the French General Rochambeau had ran out of the fortress to hide at another Fortress, "Fort Vertieres" and taken position there.
However, Rochambeau had made a big mistake because nothing could save him. Once again, Dessalines ordered his men to completely destroy the fortress with cannon. After reducing it to rubble, Rochambeau and his men were capitulated. Suddenly, the dream had become a reality. The Haitians had gotten their independence.
To show the land no longer belonged to the French, Dessalines immediately renamed the country from Saint Domingue to its original name, "Haiti."
For the next twenty Five years, the precious land of Haiti, will be governed by two men: a President who will appoint a governor to govern the part that is today called, the Dominican Republic, and he, the rest of Haiti. On December 4, 1803, the French had returned the last occupied land, Mole-St-Nicolas, to Dessalines and left Haiti.
On December 31, 1803, all the generals had gathered at Gonaives to participate in the, "The Solemn Ceremony of The Proclamation Of Haiti's Independence." On January 1, 1804, In the presence of a joyful and proud crowd, at the Park, called, "La Place d'Armes Des Gonaives," across the street from City Hall, witnessed for the first time their Bi-Colored Flag or symbol of Liberty, dominated the sky of Gonaives.
What a moment, after 13 years of fighting three different occupations, to inhale, physically touch, and finally own Freedom; that was the most overwhelming joy these people had ever experienced in their entire lives.
Freedom for the Haitians was not enough. As we journey together, I am going to reveal to you the contributions and physical participation of Haitians throughout the world. When it comes to Freedom, the Haitians did not discriminate. They have helped: White (US), Black, Asian, and European, Central and South America. I urge you to read all my upcoming blogs because you have shocking surprises waiting for you.
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