35

General Tillson, ASst. Commr, relative
to his tour among the Sea Islands of Geor
gia.

Georgia

The General reports that with a very [few?]
unimportant exceptions not yet reached
all the questions in dispute between the [freed?]
people on the Island, and the former white
residents, have been amicably settled. "In
many isntances the former owners have
returned to their homes, being welcomed
by the freed people not having grants of
land, who have gone to work for good
wages and are happy and contented.
Those having grants have had them co[n?]
solidated on one part of the estate
upon which they were given, as di-
rected in S.F.O. No. 3, and are also satis
fied. In addition to these results, a
aving of from Six thousand to Eight
thousand rations per month to the
Government has been effected.

General Tillson regrets to add that the
very lavish and unnecessary distribution
of rations "in these Islands" has produ-
ced mischivous consequences, and States
that there are really but a few cases,
where rations should have been issued.
He fears that "in most instances from
lack of means to ogbtain seeds, [implements?]
animals and food, the freedpeople hav-
ing grants of land will fail to raise [food?]
crops," and does not think that there are [illegible]
familier on the Sea Islands of Georgia
to whom their grants of land are of any
value what ever.

"Land is very abundant
but labor is scarce and commands a [very?]
high price" "It is perfectly apparent
to any one acquainted with the [cond?]-
tion of things on these Islands, that the
freed people would be much better off at
the end of this or next year to go to [work?]
for wages than to attempt to cultivate [illegible]
lands assigned them [scan cut off]

394