Riot at Millican (July 17, 1868)

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.