Slaves Brutally Mutilated After Uprising on Louisiana’s German Coast

The German Coast Uprising of 1811

In January 1811, Charles Deslondes, a slave living on a plantation in the German Coast Region of the Louisiana Territory led a small army of slaves in an uprising. Marching in military formation toward New Orleans, the army killed at least two people and burned plantation buildings and fields. Louisiana Militia ended the rebellion, which ultimately led to the brutal deaths and treatment of participants in the uprising and the tightening of Slave Codes.

The German Coast Uprising has been in the news because The Descendants Project has purchased the Woodland Plantation, where the uprising started.

Depiction of slaves marching to New Orleans.Photo bySt. Charles Parish Museum and Historical Association

Freedom or Death!

This video from Atun-Shei Films presents a comprehensive look at the German Coast Uprising of 1811.

Important Facts about the German Coast Uprising

The German Coast Uprising is also known as “Andry’s Rebellion” and the “Louisiana Slave Revolt of 1811.”

It is regarded as the largest slave uprising in America.

It was inspired by the Haitian Revolution (1791–1804), an insurrection carried out by slaves against French colonial rule in Haiti, which led to freedom and self-government for the slaves.

The German Coast Uprising started on January 8, 1811.

It originated from the Manual Andry’s Plantation in St. John the Baptist Parish in the Louisiana Territory along the Mississippi River.

Andry Woodland Plantation in LaPlace Lousiana.Photo byWikimedia

The region had been settled by German immigrants, so it was called the German Coast.

The uprising was led by Charles Deslondes and eventually involved around 400-500 people. Deslondes was a slave driver at Andry's plantation and united the slaves with runaways who formed a Maroon Society in the nearby swamps.

The uprising started when the slaves attacked Andry, who survived the attack and sent word to the other plantations in the area. The slaves also attacked his son, Gilbert Tomassin Andry, and killed him.

Andry recalled: “An attempt was made to assassinate me by the stroke of an axe…My poor son has been ferociously murdered by a horde of brigands who from my plantation to that of Mr. Fortier have committed every kind of mischief and excesses, which can be expected from a gang of atrocious bandittis of that nature.”

Deslondes led his army southeast, toward New Orleans, which was downriver. They marched in military formation and were joined by slaves from other plantations. The army eventually grew to as many as 400-500 people.

As the army marched, it burned plantation buildings and fields and killed at least two people.

News of the uprising spread to the plantations along the river, and residents fled to Destrehan Plantation for safety.

Slave cabins at the Destrahan Plantation.Photo byDestrahan Plantatoin

Governor William C.C. Claiborne called up the militia, led by General Wade Hampton I, who assembled volunteers and prepared to engage Deslondes.

Hampton was joined by U.S. Army troops and Navy sailors and had roughly 700 men under his command. Some of his men were Native American Indians, who helped track the slaves.

Around 4 a.m. on January 10, Hampton and some of his men reached a plantation, where Hampton thought the slaves had camped overnight. However, the slaves were already gone, headed back upriver.

This painting depicts Hampton's militia engaging the slaves.Photo bySt. Charles Parish Museum and Historical Association

At about 9:00, local militia, led by Manual Andry and Charles Perret, found the slaves moving toward Bernoudy’s Plantation. Perret ordered his men to attack. They quickly overwhelmed the slaves, killing 40-45 of them. The survivors escaped into nearby woods and swamps.

On January 11, Indian trackers and hunting dogs helped find Charles Deslondes. A slave driver and son of a white man and a slave, Deslondes, the son of a white man and a slave, received no trial or interrogation and was brutally tortured and killed. 

The next day, January 12, more of the leaders were captured, and killed. Their bodies were mutilated and the heads were sent to Andry’s plantation.

More participants were rounded up and then three tribunals were conducted by territorial officials at the Destrehan Plantation in St. Charles Parish, in St. John the Baptist Parish, and New Orleans (Orleans Parish). 

This painting depicts one of the tribunals.Photo bySt. Charles Parish Museum and Historical Association

Many of the slaves were found guilty and executed by firing squads. The bodies were mutilated and their heads were put on spikes and placed along the River Road as a warning to other slaves. 

Between the uprising and the executions that took place afterward, approximately 95 enslaved people lost their lives.

After the rebellion, authorities tightened the restrictions governing the activities of free blacks in Louisiana while freeing some loyal slaves who provided information or who, by serving in the militia, helped crush the uprising.

This painting depicts the brutal mutilation of the slaves.Photo bySt. Charles Parish Museum and Historical Association

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