The Texas Troubles, occurred in the intense political climate of 1860. In July a series of unexplained fires in Dallas, Denton, and other parts of North Texas encouraged again the formation of vigilance committees. These groups conducted interrogations that spread terror in the slave quarters and implicated itinerant ministers as the insurrection leaders. The general rebellion expected on election day, August 6, did not occur, but wildly exaggerated reporting spread panic through most northern and a few central Texas counties. Ultimately about ten reputed abolitionists and probably half that many slaves reportedly died at the hands of frontier justice between July and September.