Col. Lewis Merrill-- Part 4: Racial Difficulties in South Carolina

The Situation in York County, South Carolina

Before Lewis Merrill arrived in South Carolina, in February 1871, local black preacher Elias Hill met with local Ku Klux Klan leaders to negotiate for the safety of Blacks in the community.  These negotiations were not successful, and around February 12,  eight black men were killed by around  500 to 700 Whites in black gowns and masks.  Nightly Klan raids took place for months after that.

An important black leader in York County at the time was a former Union soldier and local militia leader named James  Rainey, also known as Jim Williams.  At the time, black militias were known as Union Leagues.

On February 11, 1871, Jim Williams, along with June Moore (cousin of Elias Hill) and a group of Blacks met with a group of Whites led by J. Rufus Bratton at a crossroads near Clay Hill in an attempt to deescalate tensions.  Williams said  he would be willing to give up his weapons and other Union league members agreed to stop having nighttime meetings.

It didn't work.  The truce was broken the next day.

--Old Secesh