Colfax Massacre, 1873.

Your adventure begins: Lincoln freed the slaves in 1863, The Civil War met its bloody end at Appomattox in 1865 and the 14th and 15th amendments, which guaranteed freedom and voting for the Negro, were in effect by 1870. However, In louisiana, the people are not dissimlar from the geography they inhabit. They are slow and resistant to change, much like the stagnant water that fills the swamps of Louisiana. by 1873, the law had changed but the people of Colfax, Louisiana had not. The war that ravaged the country was over, civil rights amendments had been ratified, but the battles being waged for power over parishes and counties had just begun... Your name is William Calhoun and you are the son of a brutal planter named Meredith. Dropped from the arms of a maid at one and a half years old, you suffered a broken back and a visible hump that requires you to walk with a slight limp. Throughout the Civil War you remained at home, avoiding the conflict and danger. Regardless of what evil your father has done. You are not the same person and you vow to erase any dishonor from the Calhoun name. Helping the Negroes gain enfranchisement has now become your goal.However, conflict is now at your backdoor and it will be your actions that will determine the outcome of the Colfax Massacre. You begin at your house. A man has arrived with a letter of invitation. He looks as if he is a member of the White League. [[Read it]] [[throw it away]]

The letter: Calhoun, I am writing on behalf of the Democratic party and we are in desparate for men of your status and influence. I know that your father was a loyal planter and Democrat. There is talk of Republican organization and a negro uprising to win the election. We can't let those damned niggers run this parish. We meet at sundown tomorrow, at my estate. Don't be late. Christopher Columbus Nash you decide to [[go to the meeting]] [[hide out in your house]]

Men on horse back approach your house and Christopher Columbus Nash walks up to you. "You decided not to come, eh Calhoun? you are either with us or against us, calhoun, which is it?", Nash says. He has a torch in his hand, thirty other riders and a menacing look about him. [[go with him]] [[i will not cooperate]]

The meeting is being led by Nash and he addresses a company of 50 white men. Nash: "We men as former soldiers of the Confederacy have a sacred duty to not let our parish fall to Niggers and Republicans. We have to stand up to this because if we lose power, we lose everything. These niggers want to take our power, kill us and then have our women as their own.(loud cries of anger). I want everybody to sign an oath. A promise to each man here that he will resist and not let our parish fall. Any man who does not sign will be considered an enemy of the state" [[sign reluctantly]] [[take a stand and do not sign]]

[[throw it away]]

[[go to the meeting]]

Nash and his posse destroy your property and lynch you from a tree. On your body is written: "nigger lover"

You feel terrible and angry at yourself for signing such an agreement. However, you are still alive and you know that you only signed in order to remain alive. The meeting is over and you [[Decide to go home]]

When it is your turn to sign, you stand up and address the croud. You: "Nash, I don't care who my father was or what he did. I am not going to join this company. I cannot. It may have taken me awhile to realize the evils of slavery and oppression, but I won't sign this document and committ myself to an evil cause. Since the war, I have witnessed the humanity of the blacks, and their plight is great. So from now on consider me an enemy and a friend of the Republican and negro cause". You must decide to: [[wait for a response]] [[run away]]

Loud cries of anger erupt from the men gathered at Nash's estate. "Lynch'em!" cries a bearded fellow. "Yeah, lets make an example out of him!" exclaims another. However, Nash had other thoughts: "No gentlemen this man is a guest in my house and after all he is white. We won't lynch him. Instead, Calhoun your fate is this. You won't be able to set foot or call on anyone in polite society. You will no longer have any influence. You are a quisling and a pariah." Your response is to: [[Decide to go home]] [[become incredibly angry and attack Nash and his mob]]

You are riding away on your horseback and you hear a soft negro voice cry out in the dark, "Hey, Mr. Calhoun". Wheeling the horse around you find a negro woman who was listening in on the meeting. She wants to give you information and was impressed by your stand against Christopher Columbus Nash and the White League. [[listen to her]] [[tell her to leave before nash finds out]]

You arrive home and after a days of looking out of windows and attempting to figure out what to do. You: [[begin to prepare for the worst]] [[pack your bags and migrate up north]]

Nash orders his men to restrain you and he becomes uncontrollably angry and decides to kill on the spot. Gameover

The Negro servant gives you the following information: "I was tending the garden yesterday evening and I overheard Nash speaking about plans to rig the parish election and take the courthouse to ensure that a Democrat is elected as judge and sherriff. He means to do everything necessary to guanrantee that, no matter how many men he kills. He is already mobilizing his friends, who are all ex-confederate soldiers, and they call themselves the white league." you thank her for the information and [[Decide to go home]]

She disappears into the night and you: [[Decide to go home]]

You walk into the study room and sit by the fire while contemplating how to fix the dire situation you find yourself in. As you stoke the fire you realize that your estate is completely unprotected. you decide to: [[start barricading your property and posting sentries]]

You disappear into the night and head north to Philadelphia. Never to be seen or heard from again by anyone in Louisiana. Game over.

A hired hand approaches as you are blocking the main road into your estate and says to you: "sir, isn't there anyone who can come to our aid? What about the government? The yankees fought for our freedom and I hope that in the moment when we need help securing it they won't abandon us." You reply, [["we are on our own in this conflict, We don't need the government to help us"]] [["You are right. We know that the White League has been mobilizing and that the election date is when they will likely act. If we can only send word to the Freedmans Bureau, then they might send troops"]]

A couple of days have transpired sense you started barricading your estate and in the distance you see a large group of negro refugees approaching. There clothes are tattered and they look like they havn't had much food. The leader of the group addresses you: "Calhoun, word has gotten around that you have been threatened and villified by Nash and his men. Can you help us?" You decide to: [[help them]]

You begin to compose a letter to the Freedmans Bureau. It reads: To whom it may concern: I believe that Colfax is in a dire situation. We are being terrorized and overrun by the White League. The election is steadily approaching and the Christopher Columbus Nash has mobilized former confederate soldiers into an organization named the White league. Their plan is to rig the election by any means necessary and I fear that violence will be utilized to do so. Now that you are apprised of our situation, I am requesting that you send troops immediately to quell this conflict. Thank you and God speed, Calhoun. A couple days have transpired from the day you sent the letter and the word has gotten around to former slaves that you are helping the negro cause. "sir, look, from a distance I can see a group of negro refugees approaching, what would you like to do with them?", said a maid. You decide to: [[lets hear what they have to say]]

You address the group: "You can stay in the former slave quarters untill we can build better homes for you. We also have a school and we use our pastures for growing crops. You can stay as long as you want. I think this estate is probably the safest place in the parish and we will need your votes for the election. A month has transpired and the election date is upon you. You decide to: [[mobilize your voters and march on the courhouse]] or [[maintain what you have going within your estate]]

The refugees slowly approaches your house. Their clothes are tattered and they appear malnourished. The leader addresses you: "Calhoun, word has gotten around about how you dealt with Nash and his men. We need your help. We havn't had food to eat and we need shelter. Can you help us? You decide to: [[help the refugees]]

You address the refugees: "Ya'll are welcome to stay in the former slave quarters untill we can build better homes. Your families will recieve food and your children can go to school at our estate school house. I only ask that the able bodied men assist with the planting and nuturing of crops. This is probably the safest place in the parish and we will need ya'll come election time." A month has transpired since you helped the refugees and the election is upon you. you decide to: [[mobilize the republicans and negro voters and march on the courthouse]] or [[maintain what you have going within your estate]]

As you walk through the center of Colfax, Louisiana you see gathered thousands of republican and democratic voters. The tension is palpable and the election is very tense. The results are in and the Republicans have won the election. The Sheriff and the Judge are now loyal and supportive toward the franchisment of the negro. However, the victory is short lived and fear is now spreading throughout the Republican camp that Nash and his men will forcibly take the courhouse. You decide to: [[begin to arm the men and set up defense works around the courthouse]] or [[retreat back to your estate with your men. No amount of bloodshead is worth keeping the election]]

The Democrats led by Christopher Columbus Nash storm the courhouse and murdered 150 black men. Because of your decision to stay home, you failed to prevent the Colfax Massacre. Game over

As you walk through the center of Colfax, Louisiana you see gathered thousands of republican and democratic voters. The tension is palpable and the election is very tense. The results are in and the Republicans have won the election. The Sheriff and the Judge are now loyal and supportive toward the franchisment of the negro. However, the victory is short lived and fear is now spreading throughout the Republican camp that Nash and his men will forcibly take the courhouse. You decide to: [[arm the men and set up defense works]] or [[retreat back to your estate with your men.]]

Its easter sunday, April 13th 1873. At a time when people should be rejoicing and silently praying, instead, Negro men are armed and protecting the courthouse. Nash and his company of men ride up and stand fixed at the top of a hill, gazing down at the courthouse. Nash states: "Give it up Niggers!! The courthouse is ours. If you refuse to vacate the courhouse we will attack" Silence ensues as nobody knows what to do. However from a distance a loud company of aremed union soldiers, diverse in color, creed, and background approach the courhouse singing The Battle Hymn of the Republic. "Glory. Glory. Hallelujah. Glory. Glory. Hallelujah. Glory. Glory. Hallelujah. His truth is marching on" The commander of the company address you: "As per request, the Freedmans Bureau has sent Union troops to your aid" Huge cries of joy and relief emanate from the courthouse as everyone relizes that bloodshed has been staved off. Because of your decision to send the letter, you were able to prevent the Colfax massacre from happening. Congratulations. [[The Real Colfax Massacre]]

The Democrats led by Christopher Columbus Nash storm the courhouse and take the election back. Because of your decision to return home, you were able to prevent the massacre. However, you were unable to secure enfranchisement and secure a future for the negro residents of Colfax. [[The Real Colfax Massacre]]

Its easter sunday, April 13th 1873. At a time when people should be rejoicing and silently praying, instead Negro men are armed and protecting the courthouse. Nash and his company of men ride up and stand fixed at the top of a hill, gazing down at the courthouse. Nash states: "Give it up Niggers!! The courthouse is ours. If you refuse to vacate the courhouse we will attack" The Republican and Negro men guarding the courthouse bravely refused to cede the Court to Nash. However, Nash with his men, quickly overran the meager defenses and the end result was the deaths of 150 negro men and women. You were unable to prevent the Colfax Massacre. [[The Real Colfax Massacre]]

Because you retreated back to your estate, you were able to save the lives of the refugees. However, you were unable to prevent the Massacre. At the end of the carnage, 150 negro men and women were killed. [[The Real Colfax Massacre]]

The massacre took place on Easter Sunday April 13, 1873 and according to Eric Foner, it was the worst instance of racial violence during Reconstruction. After the 1872 election for the governor of Louisiana and other local offices, Republican Freedman and the state militia attempted to protect the courthouse in Colfax. In response, a collection of white Democrats, armed with superior weapons took the courthouse. In the process 150 negro men and women were murdered, most were killed after they surrendered the courthouse and ceased fighting altogether. After the Massacre, the democrats interpreted the event as a republican uprising or a "riot". According to the white democrats, the events marked an end of "carpetbag misrule" To this day the historical marker at the Colfax Courhouse reads: Colfax Riot: On this site occured the Colfax Riot in which three white men and 150 negroes were slain. This event on April 13,1873 marked the end of carpetbag misrule in the South". However, the current historiography of Colfax has been far less forgiving of the event and it is remembered by historians as the most brutual instance of intimidation and racial violence during reconstruction.