It's 11 a.m. on Monday, July 30th, 1866 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Inside Suley's commercial

college in the heart of the city, a 17-year-old accounting student named R.W. Todd stares

ugly out the window at the neighboring Lafayette Square Park below. Inside the large classroom,

about 30 to 40 boys mill about waiting for their instructor to arrive. Todd has no interest

in being an accountant. He longs to be outside working with his hands, not cooped up inside

a building all day, crunching numbers. His day-dreaming though is interrupted by his

classmate, Thomas Manning.

Did you even hear what I said?

Todd breaks his gaze. Looks at his friend.

Oh, no, sorry. I was just obnoxious. You must start focusing more. Fall classes are just around

the corner. Yeah, no. You know. I don't think you do. If you fail, what will your father say?

Todd's father is a strict man, a military officer, enlisted by the federal government to protect

black politicians and activists who are fighting for equal rights. He is a good man and he has high

expectations for his son. Before Todd has a chance to answer the question, the door to the classroom

bursts open. Mr. Suley, a former Confederate soldier, turned schoolmaster, enters the room in a hurry.

His hair, normally neat, is tassled in his clothes, unkempt. He struggles to catch his breath.

Boys, I'm afraid class is canceled. All you should go home immediately. There's to be a riot

at the Mechanics Institute down the street. And for your own safety, I must urge you all to exit

this building at once. Boys in the classroom look at each other, puzzled and nervous. Mr. Suley

raises his voice. Evacuate at once, dammit. As the students quickly gathered their materials and

head for the exit, Todd freezes in panic. His father works right next to the institute. Just then

his classmate grabs him by the shoulder. Robert, we need to leave. No, no, no, I need to find my father.

...