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The day freedom died : the Colfax massacre, the Supreme Court, and the betrayal of Reconstruction Cover Image Book

The day freedom died : the Colfax massacre, the Supreme Court, and the betrayal of Reconstruction / Charles Lane.

Lane, Charles, 1961- (Author).

Summary:

Following the Civil War, Colfax, Louisiana, was a town, like many, where Negroes and whites mingled uneasily. But on April 13, 1873, a small army of white ex-Confederate soldiers, enraged after attempts by freedmen to assert their new rights, killed more than sixty Negroes who had occupied a courthouse. Now, journalist Charles Lane transforms this nearly forgotten incident into a historical saga. Seeking justice for the slain, one brave U.S. attorney, James Beckwith, risked his life and career to investigate and punish the perpetrators--but they all went free. What followed was a series of courtroom dramas that culminated at the Supreme Court, where the verdict compromised the victories of the Civil War and left Southern blacks at the mercy of violent whites for generations.--From publisher description.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9780805083422
  • ISBN: 0805083421
  • Physical Description: xviii, 326 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps, ; 25 cm
  • Edition: First edition
  • Publisher: New York : Henry Holt and Co., 2008.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 307-312) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:
Prologue -- "Wholesale murder" -- From plantation to parish -- Power struggle -- War -- Blood on the red -- Black-letter law -- Manhunt -- Louisiana on trial -- A justice's judgment -- "If Louisiana goes..." -- The court speaks -- Epilogue -- Appendix: How many died?.

Search for related items by subject

Subject:
Beckwith, James, 1832-1912.
United States. Supreme Court > History > 19th century.
African Americans > Crimes against > History > Louisiana > Colfax > 19th century.
Massacres > Louisiana > Colfax > History > 19th century.
Violence > Louisiana > Colfax > History > 19th century.
Racism > Louisiana > Colfax > History > 19th century.
Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877) > Louisiana.
Lawyers > Louisiana > Biography.
Trials (Murder) > United States > Case studies.
Racism.
Colfax (La.) > Race relations > History > 19th century.
Genre:
Biographies.
Case studies.

Available copies

  • 12 of 13 copies available at NC Cardinal. (Show)
  • 0 of 1 copy available at Onslow County Public Library.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 13 total copies.
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Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Jacksonville Main Library 976.367 LAN (Text) 36015000685863 Adult Nonfiction Checked out 08/14/2026

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MARC Record

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504 . ‡aIncludes bibliographical references (pages 307-312) and index.
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520 . ‡aFollowing the Civil War, Colfax, Louisiana, was a town, like many, where Negroes and whites mingled uneasily. But on April 13, 1873, a small army of white ex-Confederate soldiers, enraged after attempts by freedmen to assert their new rights, killed more than sixty Negroes who had occupied a courthouse. Now, journalist Charles Lane transforms this nearly forgotten incident into a historical saga. Seeking justice for the slain, one brave U.S. attorney, James Beckwith, risked his life and career to investigate and punish the perpetrators--but they all went free. What followed was a series of courtroom dramas that culminated at the Supreme Court, where the verdict compromised the victories of the Civil War and left Southern blacks at the mercy of violent whites for generations.--From publisher description.
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