How the Black St. Domingo Legion Saved the Patriot Army in the Siege of Savannah, 1779 The American Negro Academy. Occasional Papers No. 5

The narrative opens with a fresh look at the 1779 siege of Savannah, an episode usually consigned to footnotes in Revolutionary War histories. While conventional accounts emphasize French missteps and American losses, this work brings to light the crucial, overlooked role of the Black St. Domingo Legion—a unit of enslaved and free Black soldiers recruited by the French. Their disciplined fire and daring assaults shifted the balance long enough for the Patriot army to regroup and avoid a complete rout.

Drawing on contemporary reports and military records, the author reconstructs the days of bombardment, the frantic movements of militia, and the tactical decisions that allowed the legion to break through fortified positions. The story is told with vivid detail, showing how the legion’s bravery challenged prevailing attitudes about race and capability in the 18th‑century battlefield. Listeners will come away with a richer understanding of how this hidden contribution helped shape the fight for liberty.