While most Reconstructions-era violence was sparked by conflicts between African American Republicans and white Democrats,the initial catalyst for the Massacre was the attempt by some Opelousas African Americans to join a Democratic political group in the neighboring town of Washington.White Democratics in Opelousas,mainly members of the Seymour Knights,the local unit white supremacist organization Knights of the White Camellia,visited Washington to drive them out of the Party.In response Emerson Bentley,an Ohio-born white school teacher and editor of The Progress,a Republican newspaper in Opelousas,wrote what many local whites through was racially inflammatory article which described the violence that the Seymour Knights had used against the African American Democrats in Washington.Emerson argued that such violence should persuade the African Americans to remain loyal to the GOP.
Shortly after the article appeared,Emerson was assaulted by a group of whites while he taught his class.He was severely beaten and whipped although he survived the assault.In response he fled the town,literally running for his life for nearly three weeks before escaping back to the North.
Meanwhile numerous reports circulated that Emerson had been killed in retaliation for his news article.His mysterious absence was enough to support rumors of his death.Now African Americans Republicans urged retaliatory violence on the Knights,who in turn viewed this as beginning of the long anticipated,and inevitable,"Black Revolt" and race war.The Knights of the White Camellia mobilized thousands of members.Both sides were armed and prepared for conflict as they gathered in Opelousas.
It is unclear as to initiated the battle that began on September 28.What is clear is that the white Democrats had the overwhelming advantage in numbers and weapons. By the afternoon of September 28 the battle had become a massacre.A number of African Americans were shot and killed or captured and later executed.Those who were not captured were chased into swamps and killed on sight.Twelve leaders of the African American Republicans who surrendered were executed the next day on the edge of town.Those executions seemed to encourage a wave of anti-African American violence that spread throughout the parish.No one would ever know how many people were killed but the estimate is that the number at least 150 and may have exceeded that total.
Shortly after the article appeared,Emerson was assaulted by a group of whites while he taught his class.He was severely beaten and whipped although he survived the assault.In response he fled the town,literally running for his life for nearly three weeks before escaping back to the North.
Meanwhile numerous reports circulated that Emerson had been killed in retaliation for his news article.His mysterious absence was enough to support rumors of his death.Now African Americans Republicans urged retaliatory violence on the Knights,who in turn viewed this as beginning of the long anticipated,and inevitable,"Black Revolt" and race war.The Knights of the White Camellia mobilized thousands of members.Both sides were armed and prepared for conflict as they gathered in Opelousas.
It is unclear as to initiated the battle that began on September 28.What is clear is that the white Democrats had the overwhelming advantage in numbers and weapons. By the afternoon of September 28 the battle had become a massacre.A number of African Americans were shot and killed or captured and later executed.Those who were not captured were chased into swamps and killed on sight.Twelve leaders of the African American Republicans who surrendered were executed the next day on the edge of town.Those executions seemed to encourage a wave of anti-African American violence that spread throughout the parish.No one would ever know how many people were killed but the estimate is that the number at least 150 and may have exceeded that total.
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