Enredo

The American Civil War was a time of great unrest and uncertainty. Nowhere was this more apparent than in the lives of free people of color in New Orleans. As they watched their rights erode over the years, they viewed the War as an opportunity to prove themselves as capable soldiers, who were deserving of the freedoms and privileges enjoyed by the white citizens of the city. One man who fearlessly joined that fight was Andre Cailloux. Born enslaved in southeast Louisiana, Cailloux earned his freedom as a young man and dedicated his life to the betterment of himself and his community. He joined the Union Army, recruited soldiers on the diverse streets of New Orleans, and eventually led the first assault by black units as part of the U.S. military at the Siege of Port Hudson. Cailloux and his men battled against seemingly insurmountable obstacles as they made multiple charges upon the well-defended Confederate bastion. Cailloux lost his life in the fray, but his courage and sacrifice became a rallying cry for abolitionists across the nation; helping to lead to the end of slavery and the 13th Amendment. Andre Cailloux has nearly been forgotten - until now. Told through the works of local New Orleans artists and preeminent experts, this important and pivotal story breathes new life into the history and sacrifice one hero made in the fight for freedom.