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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 The Millican Riots Project HOLD Moment in History • PROJECT HOLD MOMENT IN HISTORY • JULY 25, 2006 • THE MILLICAN RIOTS A Tragic Story Recorded by the Freedmen’s Bureau The Act of March 3, 1865 The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, often referred to as the Freedmen’s Bureau, was established in the War Department by an act of March 3, 1865. The Bureau supervised all relief and educational activities relating to refugees and freed- men, including issuing rations, cloth- ing and medicine. The Bureau also assumed custody of confiscated lands or property in the former Confederate States, border states, Dis- trict of Columbia, and Indian Territory. The bureau records were cre- ated or maintained by bureau headquarters, the assistant commis- sioners and the state superintendents of education and included personnel records and a variety of standard re- ports concerning bureau programs and conditions in the states. The following is a transcrip- tion completed by Project HOLD (PH) volunteers Mary Hamlin and Ruth Bramson, and PH Staff Anne Boykin in May 2006. A copy of this legal document was donated to PH and relates the story of the Millican riots of 1868: Sir I have the honor to submit the following special report of a riot which oc- curred at Millican, Brazos County, Texas, viz On the 19th July I was informed while in my office (at Bryan) that a serious riot was in progress at Millican, also that a Sheriff posse was being summonds and preparing to leave Bryan on the arrival of the passenger train at 9 p.m. Immedi- ately an arrival of said train proceeded to the Depot and found assembled about two hundred (200) citizens fully armed, and considerably excited with the reports from Millican, this with the influence of the whiskey caused me to fear the result. The train returned to Millican with the Sheriff’s posse (about 150, men) arriv- ing about eleven (11) o’clock p.m. where I found the excitement had abated, by an agreement made with the freedmen and the mayor of the town, and some of the black citizens. That all parties should lay down their arms and submit the difficulty to the proper authorities in the morning. Before the agreement was effected the Whites had placed armed guards around the town; and upon the attempt of two (2) freed- men to enter down town they were fired upon and one killed. This occurred about dark. Nothing further occurred during the remainder of the night. About six (6) a.m. (16th July) several freedmen came to me, and asked protection. I informed them that I had no troops, but if they saw fit to remain with me I would do all in my power See Transcription on p.2. For more information go to: www.freedmensbureau.com Woodcut by Ralph White, Jr. from “The Word on the Brazos,” by J. Mason Brewer. The book can be found in Arts/Culture/Entertainment/Folk Tales at: http://HOLD.cstx.gov . Decipher this! What is the word or contraction in parentheses? to keep them from harm. At eight (8) o’clock a.m. I met the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Wheat) and the Sheriff of the Co. (Mr J. Neil) who states that the leader of the freedmen G. E. Brooks (__) had agreed to meet them and settle the trouble that had arisen between the whites and Blacks. I went with them to the place of meeting. Brooks not making his appearance Sheriff Neil and myself proceeded through the town (Freedmens) where we found everything quiet. Brooks and nearly __ of the freedmen had evidently left their homes and we were unable to find them. During our absence from town, the most exciting rumors were afloat to the effect that hundreds of Blacks had congregated in the vicinity of the town with the intention of attacking and burning was done than I anticipated. Sheriff Green with a detachment of twenty (20) men arrived at eight p.m. and I directed the Sheriff to have his men return, which he acquiesced in and immediately all excite- ment was allayed and confidence once more restored. On the following day it was reported that Brooks (__) had one hundred (100) men about three (3) miles from town in a ravine and fortified. Sheriff Neil and myself at once went to the spot and found this as untrue as the rumors of the previous day, but I learned from a freedmen that Brooks had been hid- ing there the day before, and that he wished to see me, and get protection. I instructed the freedman to find Brooks and inform him that I would send him to place of safety, ed. He reports but two wounded. Not having been present when this dif- ficulty took place I am unable to report the causes from personal observation, but I am of the opinion that his troubles took place from the following facts viz Some time in June last about 15 men dressed and known as the Ku Klux attempted to frighten the freedmen by marching though their village. The freedmen rallied and firing into the K K’s who quickly dispersed leaving their clothing, arms, etc. This excited the freedmen and fearing that the Whites would revenge themselves, they (our freedmen) armed and commenced drilling and forming a Military organization which excited the fears of the Whites, who requested me to stop the carrying of arms by the freed- men. I informed them that as soon as they -2- it. Feeling satisfied that this was not the case, I returned and was met by a deputation of citizens who asked to have the mail train return to Bryan to get additional assistance. This I opposed and demanded that the train proceed to Navasota (the nearest telegraph station) and forward a telegrame to Brenham for troops. This was done. I then requested the Sher- iff to let matters remain just as they were, and not let his men leave the town, and that when troops arrived I would avenge the trouble without further as- sistance from his men (in whom I had no confidence that he could restrain if they met any freedmen in the vicinity.) This was agreed to and everything remained quiet till about eleven (11) o’clock a.m. when a report that nearly a thousand freedmen were armed near the Brazos River with hostile intentions. I was again asked to authorize the return of the freight train to Bryan for two (200) hundred men. Upon my making objections to this, I found that I should be overruled and thought it best to acquiesce and directed the Sheriff to send for as many men as he thought necessary, but to accept no men that he could not control. He seized the train and sent for fifty (50) men. This train re- turned at 2 p.m. bringing men highly excited by extravagant rumors, etc. After this I was soon satisfied that I could have no further in- fluence over matters. As parties were prepar- ing to scan the immediate vicinity in search of arms, freedmen, etc. Luckily no freedmen were found with arms and much less damage and that it was dangerous for him to remain as he was, and that if he was guilty of any crime he should be protected, while having his trial, and for him to appoint any place where I could see him, alone or with troops as he wished. Not hearing from Brooks or the freedman I supposed that Brooks could not be found, or that he was afraid to venture in town. On the following day (the 18th July) I learned from a freedman that Brooks had been hung, which has subsequently proven true, his body having been found on the 25th July by a freedmen while hunting skunk. His body was decomposed to such an extent as to render identification impossible except by articles of clothing, pencil, knife and the loss of a portion of fourth finger on right hand. On the 18th July I did instruct the Deputy Sheriff to summons a sufficient posse and go over the ground which had been disturbed by the party on Thursday and make search for any freedmen that had been killed or wound- (the Whites) would put a stop to the incursions of the K K’s, I would prevent the freedmen from drilling, etc. This was agreed to, and I issued an order that no armed band, organization or secret society not authorized by law would be permitted. This quieted Whites and Blacks and nothing oc- curred until the unfortunate oc- currence of the 15th July which from the best information I can glean is as following viz, A freedmen named Miles Brown was supposed to have been hung. Brooks (col?) directed Harry Thomas (__) to raise sufficient men to hunt his body; Harry collected about 30 men and marched them thru town in Military order. This was suf- ficient to cause uneasiness with the Whites. Harry proceeded to the Brazos River bot- tom and was joined by about 20 more men. In going to the place where it was supposed they would find the freedmen. They met one Andrew Holiday? who had some words with a freedman Robert. (It was rumored and was supposed by the freedmen that Holiday had murdered this man Miles) Holiday sent in- formation to town that the party of freedmen had surrounded his House and threatening to hang him. Whereupon about 30 Whites armed themselves and went to Holidays assistance. The Deputy-Sheriff fearing trouble, ___ more men and following, overtaking the Whites, and taking charge etc. As the Whites made a turn in the road the Whites and Blacks met and while the Major (Mr. G. A. Wheat) and the Deputy-Sheriff were talking to the freed- Illustration from Harper’s Weekly, July 25, 1868, depicting the tension of the times. Did the July heat, contribute to that tension? Possibly. (Ed.) Transcription, from page 1. vict any parties. One freedmen states that he saw Brooks in the hands of certain men, if his statement can be corroborated I will forward this affidavit. I am very respectfully Your absolute serv’t N. H. Randlett, Sub. Asst. Comm. men some one fired a musket (the Whites say the first fire was from the freedmen, but I be- lieve that Holiday gave the first fire. This is the evidence of a freedmen who was wounded but has not been substantiated by further testimo- ny). At this a general firing com-menced from the Whites. The Blacks dispersed, running in every direction. The parties returned to town and I’m informed by the Major that he and others repaired to the freedmen’s village and had an interview with Brooks who claimed that his men had been killed and he would not agree to any terms of peace. This caused intense excitement in town and was the foun- dation of the hundreds of foolish rumors about the organization of the Blacks. Subsequent to this an arrangement was made with Brooks as above mentioned. There has been for some time past a great antipathy against this freedmen Brooks by the White population, and accusations of a grave character have been made against him. This I believe is mere prejudice, and cannot be sustained by facts. The number of killed and wounded is as follows Harry Thomas (col’d) the leader of the freedmen, Hayes Hardy (col’d) King Holiday (col’d) wounded and died on the 17th. Dan Zephyr (col’d) killed on Thurs 16th. George E. Brooks (col’d) a Preacher supposed to have been killed on the 18th. Wounded Mr. Moore (col’d) shot with right shoulder slight wound. Robert (col’d) wound- ed and missing making in all five (5) killed one (1) wounded and one (1) wounded and missing. I am of the opinion that there was no just cause for the above mentioned riot that it was founded and based upon the excitability of the few free and aggravated by foolish rumor afloat in the vicinity and in the press of the country. The deliberate murder of the Preach- er Brooks was of a most outrageous character. Not enough evidence has been found to con- Decoding Handwriting from Long Ago Handwriting can change drastically in 200 years. Often there are ligatures and abbreviated combinations of let- ters that tend to resemble foreign symbols. The Brazos Genealogical Advertiser (Summer 1987) printed several guides to deciphering handwriting in early records. These guides were a tremendous help to Project HOLD volun- teers Mary Hamlin and Ruth Bramson in completing a transcription of the Millican Riot documents. Photocopy of an excerpt from Millican Riot document of July 1868. Early American handwriting styles. Date unknown. (L): Historic Preservation Committee Member Rev. Neal Nutall and Mary Hamlin. (R): Ruth Bramson.Project HOLD volunteer Mary Hamlin is part of the Oral History team.Her daugh- ter, Ruth Bramson, is our Gal Friday in the Project HOLD office and at the Explore lun- cheons. These women are worth their weight in gold! THANK YOU! -3- The Project HOLD Moment in History is a new monthly publi- cation that focuses on a particu- lar aspect of our Project HOLD online files. To learn more about this month’s feature, browse our web site in the Military/Freed- men’s Bureau files. Project HOLD wants your scrapbooks, photographs, yearbooks, memorabilia, church histories, organization histories, business histories, & oral histories! Anne Boykin, Project HOLD Heritage Coordinator aboykin@cstx.gov 979.764.3491 Visit Project HOLD at College Station City Hall! Monday - Friday mornings or by appointment. 979.764.3491 -4- Restoring a Freedmen’s Town in Houston & finding a new friend in preservation. NEW TEMPO R A R Y HOURS! Twenty years ago, in Houston, the Freedmen’s Town Historic District contained more than 500 historically significant structures. Now, less than 30 remain. Rutherford B. H. Yates Museum Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the historic African American neighborhood, has acquired eight prop- erties for use as educational museums and urban archaeology sites. Catherine Roberts, co-founder of the Yates museum group has been instrumental in the fight to stay one step ahead of the bulldozers. Debra Blacklock-Sloan, a member of the Harris County Historical Commission (CHC) specializes in genealogical and historical research. Prompted by an ar- ticle in the Texas Historical Commission publication, The Medallion, I contacted Debra. I was kind enough to share a few pictures and more information with me about this mammoth project. Through generous support from a number of donors, the National Register Home of Reverend Ned P. Pullum was recently purchased by the Rutherford B.H. Yates Museum, Inc. Plans are now underway for restoration, so that the house can be used as an historical mu- seum. Volunteer archaeological research is being conducted under direction of Dr. Carol McDavid and David Bruner in preparation for the restoration process. The home is located at 1319 Andrews and became the Freedmen’s Town Na- tional Registry Historic District in 1984. Through the efforts of the Yates Museum, it has recently received a National His- toric Places plaque and has also recently been approved for a Texas Historical Commission state historic marker. According to the 1900 Harris County census, Ned P. Pullum was born in Pick- ensville, Alabama in 1862. He came to Texas in 1895 and was pastor at Antioch Baptist Church in Beaumont, and later Bethel Baptist Church and Friendship Baptist Church in Freedmen’s Town. In the late 1890s, Pullum paid $1000.00 for acreage where he sited his six-room home. He built his home between 1898 and the early 1900’s with Colonial Revival architecture with Victorian flair. He opened his own businesses: People’s Pride Shoe Repair and Pullum Brick Yards. He also acquired several real estate properties in Freedmen’s Town that were very profitable. He died in 1927. “The Freedmen’s Town, Houston, is the only remaining former slave and freedmen’s community of its kind in the United States,” said Carol. The Yates Museum is dedicated to preservation of, and education about, the cultural history, brick streets, archaeolo- gy, and architecture of the early residents of Freedmen’s Town. --by Anne Boykin Contact Debra Blacklock-Sloan at: info@yatesmuseum.org or www.yates- museum.org. Reference: McDavid, Carol, 2006. “The Power of a Name: Reclaiming Heritage in Freedmen’s Town, Houston, Texas.” Society for Historical Archaelogy, Sacramento, CA. Rev. Ned Pullum Home, Houston, Texas Archaeology students at work in a structure in Houston’s Freedmen’s Town. Project HOLD Historic Online Library Database http://HOLD.cstx.gov City of College Station P.O. Box 9960, 1011 Texas Avenue College Station, Texas 77842 979.764.6262