Coushatta massacre facts for kids

The Coushatta massacre was a violent attack in August 1874. It happened in Coushatta, a town in Red River Parish, Louisiana. Members of a group called the White League attacked and killed Republican leaders and African Americans who had recently been freed from slavery (called freedmen).

The White League was a white supremacist group. They wanted to bring back white control and remove Republicans from power in Louisiana. They tried to stop Republicans from organizing and used fear or violence against freedmen. Groups like the White League were sometimes called the "military arm" of the Democratic Party at that time.

What Was Happening Before?

Life After the Civil War

After the American Civil War, a man named Marshall H. Twitchell came to Red River Parish. He was a soldier from the Union army, which had won the war. Twitchell became an agent for the Freedmen's Bureau. This group helped former slaves.

Twitchell married a local woman and learned about farming. In 1870, he was elected as a Republican to the Louisiana State Senate. He helped his family members get local jobs, like sheriff. Twitchell worked hard to improve education and give civil rights to the freedmen. He wanted them to have a voice in government.

The Rise of the White League

The White League started in the Red River area in 1874. Many of its members were former soldiers from the Confederate army. Their goal was to remove "carpetbaggers" (a term used for Northerners who moved South after the war) and bring back white control.

Many White League members had been part of other violent groups, like those involved in the Colfax Massacre. Unlike the secret Ku Klux Klan, the White League operated openly. They were very organized. They wanted to overthrow Republican rule. They targeted Republican officials for killing, stopped political meetings, and terrorized freedmen and their supporters.

In Coushatta, the White League strongly disliked the Republican leaders. They accused Twitchell and his family of causing what they called "a black rebellion."

The Attack in Coushatta

The Violence Begins

In August 1874, an African-American Republican state senator named Thomas Floyd was killed. This happened in Brownsville. After this, members of the White League arrested several white Republicans and about twenty freedmen. They claimed these people were planning a "rebellion."

Among the white Republicans arrested were Sheriff Edgerton, William Howell (the parish attorney), Robert Dewees, Homer Twitchell (Marshall Twitchell's brother), and two of Marshall's brothers-in-law, Monroe Willis and Clark Holland. Marshall Twitchell himself was not there; he was in New Orleans for a Republican meeting.

Hostages and Killings

Within two days, hundreds of armed white men arrived in Coushatta. They held their prisoners for several days. The White League forced the Republican officials to sign papers saying they would leave Louisiana right away.

As these six white captives were traveling out of the area, a group of armed white men attacked them. These men were led by Dick Coleman. All six white captives were killed.

At the same time, in Coushatta and nearby areas, white groups attacked many African Americans. At least four freedmen were killed, including Levin Allen, Louis Johnson, and Paul Williams. Johnson and Williams were among the freedmen arrested by the White League.

Even though twenty-five men were arrested for these killings, no one was ever brought to trial. This was because there was not enough evidence to prosecute them.

What Happened Next?

More Violence in Louisiana

Violence continued across Louisiana. Soon after the Coushatta massacre, the White League started a big uprising in New Orleans. They hoped to make the Democrat John McEnery the governor. He had been involved in a disputed election in 1872, where both parties claimed they won.

In New Orleans, this event was called the "Battle of Liberty Place". About 5,000 White League members fought against 3,500 police and state militia. The White League won this fight. They demanded that the Republican governor, William Pitt Kellogg, resign. They took control of important parts of the city, like the city hall and the statehouse.

Federal Troops Arrive

This armed rebellion finally made President Ulysses S. Grant send more soldiers to Louisiana. Within three days, Governor Kellogg was back in office because Federal troops arrived. The White League members disappeared before the troops could confront them. More troops arrived later to try and control the Red River Valley.

However, President Grant's decision to send troops might have been too late. The Democratic Party continued to gain power. In the 1876 election, white Democrats, known as "Redeemers," won most of the seats in the state legislature.

Twitchell's Fate

Two years later, Marshall Twitchell briefly returned to Red River Parish. He was shot six times. He survived, but his injuries were severe, and he lost both of his arms. His last remaining brother-in-law, George King, was killed in the same attack.