Toussaint Louverture vs Nanny of the Maroons

For Black History Month, I am pitting two famous leaders of the most successful Black slave revolts in history! Toussaint Louverture, the "Black Napoleon" who won Haiti's freedom from various European nations, versus, Nanny of the Maroons, the Maroon queen of Jamaica who defeated the largest empire to ever existed!

Who... is... deadliest?!

Toussaint Louverture

François-Dominique Toussaint Louverture, also known as Toussaint L'Ouverture or Toussaint Bréda, was born in French colony of Saint Domingue, present-day Haiti as a slave. His father was the son of a defeated king of Benin who was captured and sold to white slave traders, being sent to Haiti to work on a plantation. Little is known about Toussai nt's early life, except that he was a slave until age 33, when he was freed in 1776. At some point in his life, Louverture became educated, possibly by Jesuit missionaries, being familiar with medicine and some familiarity with philosophy and political literature, as well as gaining a basic ability to write. Louverture amassed considerable wealth as a free man by 1789, when a slave revolt broke out, Louverture was initially not involved, but in 1791, he acted as a mediator between the rebels and the French leadership. Negotiations, however, broke down, though Louverture did prevent the massacre of white prisoners held by the rebels. In 1791, Louverture become committed to the abolition of slavery, and in 1792, Toissaint truly became a leader among the rebels, training his troops in both guerrilla warfare and in the "European" style of war. In 1793, Louverture fought a campaign against French forces, at this time taking on the surname Louverture.

While Louverture was generally a royalist, when the French Revolutionary Government took abolished slavery in 1794, Louverture sided with the French, commanding military forces in Saint Domingue. During this time, he defeated Spanish and British incursions into Saint Domingue, as well as occasional small rebellions, and was eventually appointed territorial lieutenant governor, overseeing a period of tension between white landowners and former slaves, as well as a conflict with radical rival revolutionary Sonothonax. He later negotiated with the British in 1798, ending the conflict in exchange for guarantees that his anti-slavery revolution would not be extended to Jamaica and signed a similar treaty with the United States. In 1801, Louverture invaded and took control of Spanish Santo Domingo, in spite of being ordered not to by Napoleon Bonaparte and, in the same year, wrote a constitution officially prohibiting slavery anywhere on the island of Saint Domingue. He was betrayed, captured, and imprisoned at the Fort-de-Joux in France, where he died in 1803.

Weapons

• Main: Musket Model 1777 - A .69 caliber smoothboore flintlock musket used by the French and also the Haitians. Unlike other muskets of its time, the Model 1777 had a tighter fit in its barrel, securing the bullet firmly and allowing for more accurate fire. However, this caused fouling issues and made it more difficult to reload, thus reducing reload speed. Nevertheless, the musket could still fire 2-3 shots per minute. It also had a range of 50-100 yards.
• Melee: Bayonet - A bayonet that was installed easily in the musket's barrel, turning the weapon into a makeshift spear. The bayonet's shape was triangular and cross sectional, allowing it to cause massive damage.
• Heavy: Unspecified Cannon - Toussaint's army used artillery, especially his right hand man Jean Jacques Desalinnes, as seen in the Battle of Vertières. It was unknown what cannons the Haitians used, but they could be 4 or 8 pounder gribeauval cannons that had capabilities for both pitch battles and sieges.
• Special: Cavalry Saber - Many of the officers and cavalrymen in Toussaint armies were armed with the traditional cavalry or cuirassier saber that was perfect for horseback. The cavalry saber had a sharp double-edged curved blade that was great for slashing and chopping.

Battlefield Tactics

• Linear Warfare: Louverture studied rigorously the European methods of war that he integrated into his army. Line infantry tactics that was dominant in Louverture's time consisted of squads of men, formed up into lines, and further clustered into square formations. The men marched in cadence, and upon an officer's command, aimed and fired their weapons in unison, increasing the accuracy of a lone musket and doubling the havoc caused on the enemy. When the enemy's formation began to loosen, the commander would either concentrate fire on that area or coup de grace with the cavalry.
  • Louverture used this tactic to great effect during the Battle of Saint Rafael and Saint Michael on March 20-21, 1794. Louverture's army marched towards the towns where the Spanish defenders met him in combat, both on foot and inside trenches. Louverture poured his forces heavily unto the Spanish soldiers. Louverture, known for his ability to exploit gaps, attacked several weak points, finally driving the Spanish away after two days of heavy fighting. He lost many men but killed 200 men and captured many officers and artillery. Capturing two towns in a gruelling two-day pitched battle catapulted Louverture into legend.

Nanny of the Maroons

Nanny of the Maroons, also known as Queen Nanny or Granny Nanny (c. 1686 – c. 1760), was an 18th-century leader of the Jamaican Maroons. She led a community of formerly enslaved Africans called the Windward Maroons. In the early 18th century, under the leadership of Nanny, the Windward Maroons fought a guerrilla war over many years against British authorities in the Colony of Jamaica in what became known as the First Maroon War. Much of what is known about her comes from oral history, as little textual evidence exists. According to Maroon legend, Queen Nanny was born in Jamaica, and was the daughter of Prince Naquan, who was taken into slavery by the Spaniards from what is today Ghana of the Asante in 1640.

During the years of warfare, the British suffered significant losses in their encounters with the Windward Maroons of eastern Jamaica. Maroons attributed their success against the British to the successful use of supernatural powers by Nanny, but historians argue that the Maroon mastery of guerrilla warfare played a significant role in their success. The British tried to negotiate, even making an agreement with the rival Leeward Maroons for cooperation in exchange for independence. Nanny's settlements were the only ones to continue resisting the British and giving refuge to runaway slaves, even after continued effrots by the British which resulted in the loss of many of their holdings. Having failed to defeat them on the battlefield, the British sued for peace, signing a treaty with them on 20 April 1740. The treaty stopped the hostilities, provided for state sanctioned freedom for the Maroons, and granted 500 acres of land to Nanny and her followers. The village built on the land grant still stands and today is called Moore Town. It is also known as the New Nanny Town. Modern members of the Moore Town celebrate 20 April 1740 as a holiday.

Weapons

• Main: Brown Bess Musket - Nanny and her army used the Brown Bess Musket, specifically the Long Land Pattern model. The musket was typically .75 to .80 caliber and was known for its speed, having the ability to fire 3-4 rounds per minute. However, it wasn't the most accurate of muskets during its time, and had only an effective range of 100-300 yards.
• Melee: Machete - The Maroons were armed with a variety of bladed tools. These blades were mostly machetes that were used both in agriculture and in combat. They were helpful in both clearing vegetation and lopping off heads.
• Heavy: Improvised Weapons - Nanny's army made up for their lack of technological advantage by using the environment around them as weapons. There were records of Maroons using traps by rolling down large boulders with props and ropes unto unsuspecting enemies. There were also records of them burning down huts and trees to create smoke which they could use for cover.
• Special: Lance - Old-fashioned lances were used to great effect by the Maroons. They were probably between 7-9 feet, and had a simple design of a metal spear point on a long pole. Such length was needed to offer tremendous reach compared to machetes and swords.

Battlefield Tactics

• Guerrilla Warfare: As an antithesis to the Redcoats used by the British Empire, Maroon warriors were known for their hit and run tactics. They would surprise and attack their enemies and swiftly retreat back into the jungles, hills, and mountains. Their attacks were sudden and relentless, creating also a psychological factor in their enemies. In fact, in many European languages, their name often meant "feral" or "wild", and they uphold their name through their ferocity in battle.
  • This tactic could be seen during the many series of assaults that was conducted by the British Empire on the Windward settlements between 1728-1734. At one point, during one of the so-called Battle of Nanny Town, the Governor of Jamaica sent out 400 men against the Windward Maroons led by Nanny. The Maroons ambushed the militia several times, at one point driving away a whole division while also destroying another. They attacked behind trees and rocks, shouting and screaming, which forced the British to retreat and thus saving their small settlement.

X-Factors

• Training

Toussaint Louverture definitely takes this. As one who studied European style of warfare, Louverture drilled his men, originally partisan and guerrilla fighters, to be as disciplined and professional as the trained soldiers of his peers. They could still be brutal due to their background as maltreated slaves, but they were nonetheless, a professional standing force. The warriors under Nanny were purely guerrilla fighters. They were known for their wild unpredictable nature, and did not have the professional training and discipline as Louverture's.

• Experience

Louverture again takes this. During the Haitian Revolution, he stood against three of the most powerful countries of his time -- France, Spain, and Great Britain. He even fought wars against fellow Haiti revolutionaries and won, such as the dreaded War of Knives. The war that Nanny had a huge record fighting in was the First Maroon War, which was against the British militias and a few armies. She probably fought against Spain and other Maroon tribes (maybe the rival Leeward Maroons), but these were largely undocumented.

• Success

Louverture faced difficulty in trying to fight the Europeans at their own game. He may have won his war at the end but this came at a terrible cost. His campaigns in St. Marc, Ravine-a-Couleuvres, and Crete-a-Pierrot were huge defeats. Even his wins in St. Raphael and St. Michael left many of his soldiers dead. Nanny seemed to have been more methodical and cautious, thus resulting in more consistent victories. Her war, which was mostly asymmetrical, led to many small victories with little loss of men. She did lose Nanny Town several times but she always managed to recover. Both leaders were successful, but Nanny has just more wins in her belt.

Notes

• Both leaders will have 5 companies each.
  • 3 companies with each company comprised of infantry numbering 100 men.
  • 2 companies with each company comprised of cavalry numbering 30 men.
• Battle takes place in a large island somewhere in North America, specifically in a settlement surrounded by jungle. Nanny and her Maroons have decided to build a town in said island, but are forced to contend with Toussaint Louverture and the Haitians who also came to claim the island as theirs. Battle ends when either side destroy the other or drive them off the island.

Battle

Toussaint Louverture:

Nanny of the Maroons:

Nothing good ever came from a cold morning. Sure, petrichor permeated in the air and gave a soothing heavenly scent, and the cold breeze gave out a healthy chill that energized people. But comforting hours like this was what people should look out for. It was in this time where everyone relaxed and dozed off, just defenseless enough for evil to crept from behind and slit their throats.

Louverture, on his white horse, guarded his five whole battalions as they hauled their load through the jungle. The horses complained, the cannons got stuck, and the men tripped and cried and begged. The drizzle was a bigger hell and the mud even more so. However, this was what Louverture wanted. He needed a little bit of hell to keep his men alert. After all, they were former slaves. Suffering was a part of their life; they were no strangers to it.

Suddenly, a bang rang throughout the jungle, followed by a consistent melody of pops and crackle. His men scrambled and panicked -- some ducked behind supplies and others ducked into the mud. Thankfully, there were many brave souls who stood their ground and gave a response. This, however, was all but futile. The jungle hid the enemy well and their shots flew towards enigma and oblivion. The enemy's firing, unfortunately, hit their marks. Louverture desperately ordered his army to move quickly and get far away from this killzone. The rearguard, those poor brave souls, covered their retreat. In a matter of half-an-hour they were decimated to the last man.

Wounded, beaten, and weary, the Haitians continued their march deeper into the dark jungle. They knew not their enemies or their objectives even; now only fully dependent on the great Louverture and his guidance. "We'll get them soon, boys. That we will," Louverture proclaimed to his men who fretted in their long johns.

Then, the scout came bearing information. Up ahead was a mysterious village full of fellow blacks. The Haitians knew not who these people were. Yet, they acknowledged that they had no friends here; no one but them could have killed their fellow soldiers. The Haitians' anxiety dissipated and now they itched for a taste of old vengeance. With blood in his eyes, Louverture ordered his men to make haste. They had a village they needed to visit.

Maroons of the loving Nanny inhabited said community. Most of the people here were women, children, and old folks. Many of the men had gone into the jungle to investigate strangers who had landed on their shores. Whoever these people were, they were still a detriment and a danger for the Maroons and their secret town. For now, Nanny watched her people, and eagerly awaited for good news that her warriors had killed every one of these interlopers.

But her day was greeted with only cannonballs, and they rained down like Armageddon unto these poor Maroons. These large metal bringers of death smashed through houses, toppling them down. They crushed the heads and torsos of every age and gender. Nanny and her Maroons could do nothing but scramble and panic and hope not to get hit. Soon, the Haitians poured out of the woods. They lined up in four ranks and fired unto the Maroons. Nanny ordered a battalion of horsemen to sally out and offer their invaders hell as she escorted her people out of this town.

"Buy us time!" she pleaded. And her cavalry obliged.

As the Maroons retreated into the jungle, Nanny's cavalry charged with their lances in a brave but futile attempt at showing defiance. The cannons and the muskets of Louverture all but shredded the Maroons before they could get close. It was an awful massacre. In turn, Louverture sent forth his own cavalry battalion to pursue the Nanny and her Maroons. She must not get away. Many of the Maroons, especially the old and the young, could not get away in time. The Haitians kicked them all back into their huts. They were now their hostages.

So far, Louverture had conquered this accursed blood-soaked town. His officers asked him if they should pursue their enemies further, but he disagreed. He knew of the same tricks these people used, and he was having none of it anymore. "These bastards are sly. No more going into the jungle. If they still want their town and people back, they'll have to go through us. Now set up those cannons and form lines and trenches!"

Nanny and her Maroons frantically ran through the dense vegetation. The Haitian cavalry was at their backs, now seemingly trotting, and confident of another easy victory. The officer was calling out to her, possibly to try to persuade her to surrender. However, Nanny's only reply was to turn around and shoot the pig in the face with her musket. Before the Haitians could avenge their leader, boulders rolled over them, killing a few. Then, they were greeted by four battalions of Maroons, who all poured fire unto them. Nanny and her people cheered; their men had just arrived in the nick of time. The Maroon warriors may be absent during the loss of their settlement, but they weren't going to let their people die.

The situation took a turn over. It was a devastating situation for those dying Haitians. But as a testament to a people that had nothing to lose, the remaining horseman charged into where the enemy were at their thickest. Many more fell, but many also got close enough to swing and hack wildly with their sabers. The charge destroyed a Maroon battalion before the last Haitians finally went down dead. Nanny then took her people farther away and into a hill.

A week passed as Nanny and her Maroons licked their wounds and hid from the Haitians. Louverture's men gave no chase, and all the Maroons could do was kill a few foragers, which was not enough. And even this proved hazardous -- in an equally neutral land, many of the Maroons also fell from a few skirmishes with the Haitian soldiers. It was a bloody stalemate, but Nanny knew that it wouldn't last long. Soon, the war would tip, and they'd be on the losing side.

But damn those bastards and their dandy uniforms. To hell with this place as well. Nanny and her soldiers could hear the cries of their loved ones echoing through the green inferno. It pained them that all they could do was sit idly, listen, and wait for some imaginary opportunity, as their family and friends were ravaged, tortured, starved and killed. Even Nanny was on her limits. And on that day, she snapped.

"Get up and gather, all of you," she commanded. "Let's get our town back!"

Louverture smiled as he saw the screaming Maroons burst out of the jungle. They were happy to give their visitors a traditional Haitian hospitality of lead and steel.

Men after men fell as Nanny sent forth her warriors in a desperate attempt to save their families. Chaos sprouted and the Maroons died in the hundreds. Musket and cannon fire eradicated much of the Maroons, easily killing off one whole battalion. Even with a deadly combination of faith, bravery, and stupidity, the Haitian arms were just too much. The fog of war appeared and choked all combatants. It was a horrifying sight to see.

Another Maroon battalion got massacred as they reached a few meters from their enemies. It was hopeless. A tearful Nanny tried to rally and inspire her men with all her might. A Haitian sniper took aim with his musket, and he scored an accurate bullseye. Nanny took a clean shot right between the eyes. She fell down deader than the saints themselves.

The loss of their leader put anguish in the hearts of the Maroon warriors. They took out their machetes and went into a frenzy. With blood in their eyes, combined with a thirst unquenchable by nothing more than pure annihilation, the remaining Maroons charged on foot and on horseback. This time, they powered through and penetrated the lines of the Haitians. They hacked and chopped passionately as the surprised Haitians tried to fight back with their bayonets. The Maroon's courageous effort cost Louverture deeply -- one battalion was gone and another scattered away running. Louverture himself was not safe. A dying Maroon swung at his horse, nearly decapitating it. Louverture's leg was crushed below the beast as his men tried to help him.

"Damn these people!" he screamed. "Get the cavalry and destroy them!"

The Haitian horseman arrived and slammed into the Maroons. The tired and dying wildmen gave it their all as their numbers finally thinned out. The Haitians slashed and gutted any Maroons still standing. It was an awful fight, but soon it was over. Haitian officers assisted Louverture onto a new horse. The Haitian soldiers took Nanny's corpse and chopped off the head. They put her head on a pike and tossed her body into the ocean. The Maroon civilians were not so lucky. Their end came grueling and slow at the hands of the vengeful Haitians.

Expert's Opinion

Toussaint Louverture won because experts believed that Nanny's guerrilla warfare was ineffective in a neutral battlefield. Louverture also had the better trained and experienced men. The Haitians themselves were also probably knowledgeable of Nanny's guerrilla warfare, which nullified her advantages.