Alfred Moore Waddell Leads Armed Overthrow in Wilmington

Former Confederate colonel Alfred Moore Waddell leads the Wilmington coup, having announced days before the election: 'We will never surrender to a ragged raffle of negroes.' After Democrats win the election through fraud and intimidation, Waddell leads an armed mob of over 2,000 men — including a military-grade rapid-fire gun — to overthrow the remaining Fusionist city government. He installs himself as mayor and rules for four years, celebrated by the white press.