Charles Deslondes facts for kids

Charles Deslondes (born around 1789 – died January 11, 1811) was an African-American leader during a major event called the 1811 German Coast uprising. This was a revolt by enslaved people that started on January 8, 1811, in what was then the Territory of Orleans (now part of Louisiana). Charles led more than 200 rebels from plantations along the Mississippi River towards New Orleans. However, groups of white plantation owners formed militias, which are like citizen armies, and hunted down the rebels.

During the revolt, the enslaved people killed one free man of color, who was an overseer on the Andry Plantation where the revolt began. They also killed one white man as they retreated from New Orleans. The militias and the regular army killed 95 enslaved people. This number includes those killed in a battle on Bernard Bernoudy's plantation, some innocent enslaved people sadly killed by the army, and those who were put to death after trials following the revolt.

Who Was Charles Deslondes?

Early Life

Charles Deslondes was born around 1789 on the plantation of Jacques Deslondes. Records describe him as an enslaved person of mixed heritage, about 16 years old, who worked in the fields. He was likely baptized as a Catholic.

It's not clear if Jacques Deslondes ever brought Charles from Saint-Domingue (now Haiti), where a famous enslaved people's revolt had happened. There are no records showing Jacques lived in Saint-Domingue or bought Charles before Jacques died in 1793. Jacques was always documented as being in Louisiana from age 17 until his death.

Charles Deslondes worked as a "driver" on Colonel Manuel Andre's plantation. A driver was an enslaved person who supervised other enslaved people. Colonel Andre owned 86 enslaved people. This plantation is now known as the Woodland Plantation.

The German Coast Uprising

Charles Deslondes organized enslaved people and "maroons" for the revolt. Maroons were enslaved people who had escaped and lived in hidden communities. The revolt took place in what is now St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana. This area was part of the "German Coast" because many German immigrants had settled there in the 1720s.

Deslondes's forces gathered more enslaved people from plantations as they moved southeast into St. Charles Parish. They turned back just before meeting a militia sent from New Orleans. Reports about the number of rebels vary, from 200 to 500 men. At the start of their march, the men killed two white people. They also burned down three plantation houses and some crops. They mostly fought with cane knives, which are large knives used for cutting sugarcane. They had hoped to get more weapons but only managed to capture a few.

The Battle and Its Aftermath

On January 11, a militia led by Colonel Manuel Andry attacked the main group of rebels. This happened at the back of Bernard Bernoudy's plantation, west of New Orleans. Colonel Andry and his overseer, a free man of color named "Petit" Baptiste Thomassin, were among the first targets of the uprising. Mr. Thomassin discovered the rebels and was killed by them. Manuel Andry was seriously wounded with an ax. Some stories incorrectly said that Andry's son, Gilbert Andry, was also killed. However, Gilbert Andry had died five days before the revolt began.

The militia killed about forty enslaved people in the battle. Many enslaved people fled into the swamps to escape. Soon after, the militia killed fourteen more enslaved people in other small fights and captured many others. However, as many as 100 might have escaped permanently. After questioning those they caught, the authorities quickly held trials. They sentenced eighteen enslaved people to death at the Destrehan plantation. Another eleven enslaved people were sentenced to death in New Orleans. In total, 95 rebels were killed after the rebellion was stopped.

Charles Deslondes' Tragic End

Charles Deslondes was among the first to be caught after the battle, with the help of dogs. The militia did not hold him for a trial or questioning. Samuel Hambleton described Deslondes's fate, stating that he was killed in a very brutal way. His death was meant to send a harsh message to other enslaved people who had escaped into the marshes.

His Legacy

In 2021, the 1811 Kid Ory Historic House opened at the site of the revolt. This house is dedicated to both the German Coast uprising and to Kid Ory. Kid Ory was a famous American jazz composer and musician who was born there in 1886. In a letter published in a newspaper in 1811, Deslondes was mistakenly described as a free person of color.