The Millican Riot--The editor of the Hempstead Countrymen has been at Millican, and gives the cause and effect of the late riot as follows:
"A negro was reported killed in the Brazos bottom by a man named Holliday, and Parson Brooks, a negro demagogue and leader in the Loyal League, organized a party of about 75 negroes, armed and mounted them, and rode through Millican with the express intention of hanging Holiday[sic]. The latter bearing of this determination, hastened to Millican to inform the sheriff who summoned a posse of 20 men and started in pursuit, and overtook and halted the party a short distnace from Millican. A parley then took place, and while the leaders were trying to arrange matters, a negro foolishly discharged his gun, thus precipitating a fight, as the whites, thinking an attack was about to be made, fire a volley into their ranks, killing five. The negroes then scattered, and for the next two days fighting was going on, with a result of between 15 and 20 negroes killed. After the first outbreak a courier was sent to Bryan for help, and 100 men came down under the command of Captain Randlett, of the Freedman's Bureau, who commanded them throughout. It was reported to us by the Orderly Seargeant of the squad of troops, sent to help the whites, that they had killed three negroes, but the Lieutenant in command says it was not so. Which to believe we know not, as there is a mistatement somewhere."
Riot at Millican
Last week a very serious disturbance occurred at Millican, on the Central railroad, in which the lives of from fifteen to twenty negroes were sacrificed. To gain full and correct information in regard to the matter, we went up there to investigate, and ascertain whether there was any truth in the numerous and wildly exaggerated reports constantly being brought in, and the following is what we learned. It can be depended upon as correct.
On Wednesday of last week a negro was reported killed in the Brazos bottom by a man named Holliday, and Parson Brooks, a negro demagogue and leader in the Loyal League, organized a party of about 75 negroes, armed and mounted them, and rode through Millican with the expressed intention of hanging Holliday. The latter, hearing of this demonstration, hastened to Millican to inform the sheriff, who summoned a posse of twenty men and started in pursuit, and overtook and halted the party a short distance from Millican. A parley then took place, and while the leaders were trying to arrange matters a negro foolishly discharged his gun, thus precipitating a fight, as the whites, thinking an attack was about to be made fired a volley into their ranks, killing five. The negroes then scattered, and for next two days fighting was going on, with a result between fifteen and twenty negroes killed. After the first outbreak a courier was sent to Bryan for help and 100 men came down, under the command of Capt. Randlett of the Freedman's Bureau, who commanded them throughout. It was reported to us by the orderly seargant of the squad of troops sent to help the whites that they had killed three negroes, but the Lieutenant in command says it was not so. Which to believe we know not as there is a mistatement somewhere.
Next week we hope to furnish our readers with the full particulars of this bloody affair.
Colored Democrats.--Great efforts are being made by the Conservatives to form Democratic Clubs of colored men. At Galveston they succeeded in getting sixteen colored men out of nine hundred; it was a failure. We learn that in some of the worst rebel districts of the State, the colored people have joined Democratic Clubs to protect their lives.
What strange arguments the Conservatives use to induce the colored men to join their party. They say they are the best friends of the colored men, and at the same time declare against giving him[sic] the vote, and whenever they get an excuse murder them by the wholesale, as was the case at Millican the other day. No. Mr. Conservative, you cannot convince the colored people by such arguments of your friendship and sincerity.
Ranger's Home, Tex. Aug. 5, '68.
Editor's Gazette:--Sir--If I alone were interested I would treat with silent contempt the foul slanders and unblushing lies, which members of the Radical party are circulating respecting my course as a man and member of the Democratic party, but humble as my position is under the reign of Radical rule, and humble as I feel it to be among our own honest people, these slanders are being made use of to effect, prejudicially, the party to which I belong, and through that party, the public welfare of the country.
Not one word that I have ever said or written, privately or publicly, could be construed by any honesy minded man to a threat of personal violence of an aggressive character towards any member of the Radical party.
As they regard negroes their equals and I regard negroes as my inferiors, I could not very well afford to come in personal contact with any of them, and not being a "bully," or "brag" would not like to threaten a man whom I would be compelled to refuse to recognise as an equal.
Those who have known me longest and known me best, know that I have never committed of countenanced an act of "Lynch Law," or disregard of the civil authorities of the country, and my opposition to secret political associations, or organizations, has been too well known and publicly expressed. [sic] (especially the Loyal Leagues) to need refutation, but in order to protect ourselves, our property, and the lives of our wives and children, I have publicly urged, and now urge the true conservative men of the country to organize themselves thoroughly and secretly if necessary, and prepare for defence against the attacks of the loyal leagues or poor, ignorant, misguided negores, who are pushed on by irresponsible, cowardly, white villains, to commit outrages on the whites, in order to get up material for the political campaign; and the conflict between the races which lately occurred at Millican, presents but too clear a proof of the indispensable necessity of prompt action on these suggestions. While this is so, I do not counsel or advise rashness, indiscretion, or aggression, but calm, firm, determined resistance to all wrongs, and defence of our rights, and especially of our families, honor, lives and property, against any and all persons or organizations, who may attempt to trespass upon them without authority of law.
The civil laws of the country, if faithfully administered, and efficiently enforced, would give sufficient protection to the rights, lives and property of every citizen or resident of the country, white and black, without the interposition of the loyal leagues, or any other organization, and while they were administered by honest men, selected by those who are most deeply interested in the public good, they did give this portection as effectually as is usually done in countries as new and sparsely settled as many portions of our State [sic], or even in older portions of the United States, and I am perfectly satisfied if the military authorities will restore the officers they have removed, discontinue agents of the "Freedman's Bureau" and disband the loyal leagues, that law and order will be resotred, and crime and lawlessness promptly punished throughout the State. The enforcement of the laws will then be in the hands of efficient officers in the main, known to the poeople of the country as reliable and trustworthy, and the citizens will be responsible for their conduct, and are willing to be so held, but while the offices are filled by men who have no sympathies with or regard for the welfare of the people among whom they simply live, as masters, whose political prejudices will not enable them to look upon a late rebel as anything less than a demon, sent from the region of darkness, and who can look upon a carpet-bagger, radical, scallawag or negro as not inferior to an angel sent from the regions of the blessed, and negroes not only equals, but superiors, socially and politically, to any true Southern gentleman, no sensible man can expect the men of character in the country to take any interest in the management of its affairs. They cannot do so without sacrificing their self-respect by associating in many instance with me holding office by appointment, who are known to be dishonest, contemptible and mean, but the evils of our country will soon be corrected; the Democratic party will soon triumphantly overthrow the Radical party, in these United States, and especially in Texas, and the Government, both Federal and State, soon fall into the hands of the true, honest and faithful men of the country, and the political atmosphere of Texas becoming too pure for the carpet-baggers and scallawags who now infest it, they will leave it, and the negro, having no one to poison his mind and embitter his feelings towards the whites, will live in perfect peace among us, though he wil be worth by little to himself, and less to society.
As I do not expect to appear often in print, I will take occasion to say in conclusion, that white men established and have maintained this Government, that it is a white man's country, which is entitled to, and must have, a white man's Government, under the control of white voters, and officers elected by them, and that I am utterly opposed to negro suffrage in any form, as it must lead ultimately to negro equality, to which I never will quietly submit.
The negroes are free, made so by the triumph of the arms of the United States, in the hands of overwhelming numbers, and they now should have and must have all the protection necessary to secure them in their lives, persons, and undisturbed possession and free use of their property; but they are in no condition to exercise the privilege of voters, nor do I believe they ever will be, and to confer it upon them would only be placing them in the hands of vicious men to be used as pliant tools, and thereby endanger the liberties of the country, or be the cause of involving us in a war of race, which no man would more deeply deplore than myself.
Yours truly,
Henry E. McCulloch.
The Millican Riot-- Lieutenant Green, United States Army, through whose efforts, says the Brenham Banner, "the incipient riot was quelled," informs that paper that the number killed, as near as he could learn, was seven blacks: no white man killed or wounded. The first reports of the killing were greatly exagerated.
The negroes collected were some 500 strong. The Banner reiterates, on the best testimony, that the negro whose supposed death the mob intended to avenge, is "now alive and well in Washington county", near where the riot was inaugurated. --[Galveston News.
We were presented Thursday evening with a copy of an Austin paper, recently started, rejoicing in the high-sounding title of "The Free Man's Press," taking the ground that negroes are not negroes, but white men with a black skin. It is a red-hot anti-white man's paper, and commends itself to the liberal patronage of all silly blacks and radical Radicals. It denominates the late Millican collission "the Millican Massacre", and in speaking of that collision, or riot, or fight, or unp[]easantness[sic], or whatever else you may please to call it, it takes occasion to give the officer of the Freedman's Bureau of Brazos county a slap. Proceed, Free Man's Press! we is wid you dar!! Our dusky brudder, fight it out on dat line ef it take you all de summer. Go it!
"Sound the loud tocsin from Salem to Quaddy,
Skowhegan is up, and afraid of nobody."
Mr. Melvin Wade (dark-skinned) is the Free Man's Press agent for Dallas county.
"The Riot in Texas." New York Times. 25 July 1868: 2.
THE RIOT IN TEXAS.
Armed Opposition by Negroes to the Military Authorities in Millican-- Many Negroes Killed-- Particulars of the Affair.
A special dispatch from Houston, 18th inst., to the New Orleans Times, gives the following account of the ruit at Millican, Texas, which commenced on the evening of the 15th, and of which some account was given by telegraph:
"From passengers on the train news is recieved of a riot of serious dimensions, having its origin in a charge made against a white man named Holliday, of assisting to hang a negro. Holliday denied the charge, and instead that the negro was a[]ive [sic] in an adjacent county, and offered to produce him, but the negroes refused to accept his denial or wait for the proof. They immediately armed themselves and marched out to kill Holliday. The Sheriff at once called out a posse, and a conflict ensued. Five negroes were killed, and the Sheriff called for help, as the negroes were assembling in force. The agent of the Freedmen's Bureau at Bryan came down on the train to Millican the same night, with a posse to inquire into the disturbance. He found 300 armed negroes in position, and went to them under a white flag and demanded their surrender to the civil authorities, but was driven off. He then put himself at the head of the whites, declaring he would arrest them by force. An attack was made and 15 negroes killed, but not a single white man. The negroes were in superior force and refused to disperse. United States troops from Brenham were ordered to disperse them on July 18. Late yesterday evening a squad of United States troops, 20 strong, arrived at Millican, and a scouting party was sent out and three hostile negroes were killed. The negroes are fortifying, and the excitement ran high up to 4 o'clock P.M. Yesterday Capt. Randlett, Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau, went to the hostile camp and demanded that the negroes lay down their arms, but they persistently refused."
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
We copy as follows from the Galveston News of the 17th inst.:
"By the afternoon train from Houston we have intelligence of a very serious riot at Millican, on Wednesday afternoon. A mob of negroes led by a negro preacher named Brooks, and a school teacher, a white man, attempted to hang Mr. William Holliday, who formerly kept a hotel at that place. The white people would not permit it to be done. The following statement of the express messenger on the Central Road will give the subsequent events. It was written yesterday:
'Great excitement at Millican. The negroes in mass demanded one Wm. Holliday to hang him. The white people turned out to protect him. A line of battle was formed and skirmishing for about an hour. Five of the negroes were killed. Number of wounded not known. The up train last night was pressed at Bryan to run down with reinforcements. About 200 volunteers went down from Bryan. One negro was killed last night. Dispatches sent everywhere for men. No express freight from Bryan today on account of the train being in charge of the volunteers. I apprehend much trouble. The negroes are led by one preacher Brooks and a white school teacher. The whites are ledby the Freedmen's Bureau Agent and the Sheriff.'
The Bureau agent has sent to Brenham for soldiers. The train from Brenham down yesterday was immediately sent back for troops. The express messenger reports that the freedmen in large number in camp at what is called 'Freedman's town,' in the environs of Millican, and the white men camped in the town proper at the depot. When he left there was no fighting going on. Both parties were sending couriers through the country. The negroes had been considerably reinforced. They refuse to disperse at the order of the agent of the Bureau and the Sheriff, and say, 'Come and take us if you want us?' The negroes threaten the women and children of Millican, and they have left the place."
From the Houston Kuklux Vidette Extra.
Houston, Thursday, July 16.
The following dispatch was recieved a few moment since by W. R. Baker, President of the H. and T.C. Railroad:
Bryan, July 16--12 M.
W. R. Baker: Conductor Spencer sent back from Millican to the Station. His train seized by the Sheriff of the county, and ordered to report to this place for reinforcements. Report freedmen in large numbers three or four miles from Millican. Would itnot be well to order Grimes' train to relieve freight train, so that the latter might pass to Houston and not be interfered with?
Thomas McCarthy
We are indebted to Mr. Tanney, mail agent, for the following particulars of a riot at Millican, in progress yesterday and the day previous:
It seems that some days since a negro was found hanging on the Brazos. Suspicion attahed, whether justly or unjustly we know not, to two brothers named Holliday, residing on the outskirts of Millican. On Wednesday morning the negroes, who occupy a part of that town known as "Freedman's Town," armed themselves and went out with the intention of arresting the brothers, who, however, made their escape before the force reached their home. On the way to Holliday's they were met by Deputy Sheriff Bartilli, who expostulated with them on their design. They persisted, and he returned to town, where he armed twenty-five men and started back. In the road they met the negroes on their unsuccessful hunt after the Hollidays. There upon firing began. The whites say that the negroes formed in line of battle and fired first. No whites were hurt. Four freedmen were killed outright and several wounded, and the negroes driven to the woods. The whites then picketed the twon and sent for reinforcements. It is reported that negroes refusing to halt when challenged, were fired upon by the pickets and one or two killed. When the train reached Bryan it was seized by Sheriff Neil, of Brazos, who took it back with 125 armed citizens. The freight train which followed the mai[sic] train at one and a half hours distance, was also seized yesterday morning, we believe, at Bryan and sent back with armed citizens. We understand that conductor Spencer telegraphed yesterday from Bryan that fighting is still going on. The freedmen after being driven to the woods, rallied, returnedto their homes and armed themselves for retaliation. The riot appears to be the greatest we have had in Texas. There is no telegraph station at Millican, so that all our reports come through Bryan.
"Military Orders - the Riot at Millican to be Investigated." The New Orleans Times [New Orleans, LA] 21 July, 1868: 3.
Military Order--The Riot at Millican to be Investigated
We copy as follows from Special Orders No. 159, issued on Saturday last by Gen. Buchanan:
Upon the recommendation by Brevet Maj. Gen. J. J. Reynolds, commanding District of Texas, B. Rush Plumley, is hereby appointed Alderman for the city of Galveston, Texas vice Elias Smith, declined.
Brevet Lieut. Col. W. T. Gentry, Captain Seventeenth Infantry, Acting Assistant Inspector General, Fifth Military District will proceed to Millican, Texas, and return, under special instructions from the Brevet Major General commanding.
The readmission of the State of Louisiana into the Union, renders the detail of two officers as Secretaries of Civil Affairs unnecessary--Brevet Lieut. Col. W. t. Gentry, Captain Seventeenth Infantry, will therefore be relieved from the duties of Secretary of Civil Affairs, Fifth Military District, by Brevet Major B. B. Keeler, First Lieutenant Thirty-ninth Infantry, who will take charge of all papers and records belonging to the office.