François Capois (1766 – 8 October 1806) was a Haitian rebel and army officer who fought in theHaitian Revolution. He was born inPort-de-Paix,Saint-Domingue on the island ofHispaniola, on the plantation of Laveaux/Lapointe. His name was a transformation of the namecappouet, owner of the plantation.
His military career began in 1793 after a visit with independence leaderToussaint Louverture atPort-de-Paix. Then under the colonelJacques Maurepas he was a member of the 9th brigade. His rank in the army changed quickly, first to Lieutenant, then to Captain of the 3rd Battalion. He participated under generalJacques Maurepas against all expeditions and invasions in thenorth-eastern region of the island. Capois is mostly known for his extraordinary courage and especially hisherculean bravery at theBattle of Vertières in which the French generalViscount of Rochambeau, commander ofNapoleon's army inSaint-Domingue (colonial Haiti), even called a brief cease-fire to congratulate him.
After receiving new troops from France,Rochambeau dispatched General Clauzel againstPort-de-Paix which Capois was forced to evacuate, but the fearless black general redeemed his defeat by storming thePetit-Fort where he captured the ammunition, of which he was in great need. After his success atPetit-Fort, he decided to attackTortuga island (Île de la Tortue). The most difficult problem he had in this attack was how to reach this island without ships. He made up for this lack by building a raft consisting merely of planks held together by lianas.
On the night of February 18, 1803, 150 soldiers under the command of Vincent Louis were huddled together on this frail means of transportation in tow of 2 rowboats. They fell unexpectedly on the garrison of Tortuga and, for a while, seemed to be the conquerors. But the French, who soon got over their surprise, rallied and defeated Vincent Louis, who succeeded in making his escape with some of his companions. The unfortunate blacks who were taken prisoner by the French were tortured to death in expiation of the audacious attempt.
The failure did not discourage the energy of Capois. On April 12, 1803, Capois stormedPort-de-Paix, and soon after, Vincent Louis on his raft was again on his way toTortuga. He succeeded this time in taking possession of the island, which the French never recovered.[1]
On November 18, 1803,Jean-Jacques Dessalines had ordered Capois to capture Vertières, a fort situated upon a mount, from the French. He advanced with hishalf-brigade which, horribly mutilated, soon recoiled before the cannon fire coming from the fort. He led it back for a second time, but was again driven to the bottom of the hill by French fire.
Capois ran to seek other rebel units to command and, mounting his horse, advanced for the third time; again the heavy French fire from the fortress repulsed him and his forces. Now for the fourth time, he asked his men to follow him by shouting "Forward! Forward!". While he was at the head of his men, his horse was hit by a cannonball; he fell, but Capois took his sword, got up, and ran to place himself again at the head of his men by shouting "Forward! Forward!". His cap, garnished withhackles, was blasted away by French shot. He responded by drawing his sword and again throwing himself into the assault.
Observing this,Rochambeau and his men shouted: "Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!". The firing in the fort ceased. Suddenly, the battle was still. A French staff officer mounted his horse and rode toward Capois and shouted: "The captain-general sends compliments to the general who has just covered himself with such glory!". Then he saluted the rebels, returned to his position and the fighting resumed.
The next morning, a French officer followed by his companions led to the headquarters of the rebel army a horse caparisoned, and delivered him with these words: "The captain-general offers this horse as a mark of admiration to the blackAchilles to replace the one of his that the French army regrets having killed".[1]
On October 8, 1806, Capois was on his way toCap-Haïtien when, nearLimonade, he rode into a trap set for him, and was killed by assassins on the orders ofHenri Christophe.[2]
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