On this date, January 8, 1811, Black African slaves rebelled against their white masters in Louisiana.
On this date, January 8, 1811, Black African slaves rebelled against their white masters in Louisiana. Known as the Point Coupee Revolt of 1811, the slave revolt took place in the area known as the Louisiana German Coast near present day St. Charles and St. James Parishes. Led by a mullato Louisiana Creole slave named Charles Deslondes “the rebel”, Point Coupee Revolt of 1811 was one of the largest slave revolts in the history of the United States (rivaled only by the Black Seminole rebellion of 1835-38) with over 500 Black African slaves participating in the slave revolt. The rebel slaves fought with cane knives and clubs before securing a few firearms. By January 11, 1811, local militia and army regulars had crushed the rebels. It was documented that 2 whites were killed in the revolt, 82 Black Africans were killed or executed in the suppression of the revolt, with seventeen other Black Africans either escaping or being left for dead; As a warning, executioners placed the severed heads of sixteen black rebels on posts along the road leading to the plantation where the uprising started.