The 1811 Slave Revolt Caption 2details

What followed was a massacre. Although contemporary accounts estimated the number of revolting slaves at between 150 and 500, they were poorly armed with cane knives, axes, hoes, and a few small arms. Many victims had not participated in the revolt and were innocent bystanders.

Official body counts listed 66 slaves killed in battle or executed on the spot, 17 missing, and 16 captured and held for trial. The same report, however, stated that two patrols were still uncovering many bodies. Only two whites lost their lives.

The tribunal that met on January 13 on Destrehan Plantation tried a total of 30 slaves and sentenced 21 of them to death. They were shot, their heads were cut off and places on poles along the River Road as a warning to slaves who contemplated revolt.