A series of informative and entertaining talks
Featuring prominent local guest speakers
American Revolution
Hosted by Charles Lautier
Sunday, November 12th from 2-3:30 p.m.
Stratford Library Lovell Room
Free and open to the public
Guest speaker Eric Chandler returns to the Stratford Library with “Slaves, Freemen & Haitians in the American Revolution: Between a Rock and a Hard Place” on Sunday, November 12th from 2-3:30 p.m. for a Sunday Afternoon Talk.
Among those largely written out of the historic narrative of the American Revolution were the people of color who fought for both sides, Rebels and Redcoats, and often for the same reason – the opportunity for emancipation and freedom from chattel slavery. Free Blacks also fought, as did White colonists, to protect their families, homes and livelihoods. There are estimates that at times these soldiers of color would constitute as much as 25% of General Washington’s Continental forces. Haitian troops sent over by their French masters protected Southern ports such as Savannah. But their participation in the American War for Independence would have even greater ramifications later on, back on their home island.
Eric Chandler is retired from a thirty-plus year career as an underwriter for a leading land title insurance company. He has been involved in American Revolutionary War Living History since 1974, and has portrayed infantry, light infantry, whale-boat raider and mounted and dismounted dragoons. He is currently serving his third term as a member of the Norwalk Historical Commission and sits on the Norwalk Historical Society Board of Directors.
For further information visit: www.stratfordlibrary.org or call the Library at: 203.385-4162.
