1860_letters

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Alabama Genl Swayne's weekly Report for January -

and goes forward immediately; also that the deman[d?] exceeds the supply in all parts of the south; also that he will furnish the American Freed-man's Aid Commission with so much of the information they request from him as lies in his power. In conclusion he begs to thank the Commissioner for the friendly allusion to his action found in the Commissioner's Report, the work in Alabama will show that the foundations were well laid; and acknowledges that the result must come from the Divine blessing

Georgia Letter from Gen Tillson in relation to the prospects of the freed-men and to the Lieut Genl's Report to the President

On the 8th inst. the Bureau received a letter, of date Dec. 29th./65. from General Tillson, acting Asst. Commissioner for Georgia, in relation to the prospects of the freed-men for the coming year, and in relation to the suggestions in regard to the Bureau, made by the Lieutenant Gen'l in his recent Report to the PResident. Genl Tillson dwells briefly, but very hopefully on the former topic - advising the Bureau that the freed-men show great willingness to enter into Contracts, quite a large number of which have been lately made at rates ranging from $12 00 to $15 00 per month with board and lodging for full male hands; and then then passes to a less lengthened discussion of the later, the main points in which is, that the only desirable way in which the Lieutenant General's suggestion can be practically carried into effect "will be to select the Department Commanders with reference to their fitness as representatives of the Bureau in

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their respective States, and let them in addition to their other duties, act as Assistant Commissioners."

Georgia Liunt. Col. Curkendall writer of a case of murder of a Colored Soldiers in day time, & remark upon the State of affairs in Atlanta

From Atlanta, Georgia

the Bureau has, through a letter from Lieut. Col. Curk endall, Sub. Asst. Comm'r, dated Dec. 26th/65. and forwarded by Genl. Tillson January 3rd./66. information of a case of cold-blooded murder perpetrated upon a colored soldier in the day time, in the streets of Atlan ta, by a man "who made his escape in the face of the Police" From the facts in this case, which seem to show that freed-men's affairs wear a much less cheerful aspect in Atlanta than in Augusta, it would appear that the crime was unprovoked, a[nd?] that certain citizens with whom Col. Curkendal[l?] talked about it, rather justified the murderer tha[t?] otherwise, with but little other reason than that th[e?] soldier was a "damned nigger".

Col. Curkendall. remarks, apparently with some r[ea?] son, "should the military be withdrawn it would be well for the little Bureaus of this way to [illegible] iron clad" and seems to think that in such an event the freedmen would even be wo[rse?] off than the Bureau Agents.

Georgia Proposed new system of Laws.

On the 15th instant the Bureau received from Genl Tillson, Asstan[t?] Comm'r a letter of date Jan'y 6th. enclosing a copy of the proposed new system of law, relative mainly to the freed-people of Georgia The chairman of the Committee to draft the

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Virginia

Provost Marshal in Fredericksburg with fine, and imprisonment until the fine was paid.

[S?]pecial Order No. 650. from [illegible] of the Army

By Special Order No. 650. from Head Quarters of the Army, of date Dec. 21st. 1865, Brig. Gen. R. R. Scott U.S. Vols. is ordered to report to the Commissioner of this Bureau for duty

Special Order No. 2 from [Bu?]reau R.F. and A.L.

By Special Ord[er?] No. 2. from this Bureau, of date January 6th, Brig. Gen. R.R. Scott, U.S. Vols., having reported to the Commissioner in compliance with S. O. No 650, (as above) is assigned as Ass't Comm'r, of the Bureau for the State of South Carolina, and ordered to relieve [Brerut?] Major General R Saxton, about to be mustered out of service as [Brevet?] Major General

South Carolina Order: to Bvt. Col. R Saxton to inspect [illegible] in the State

By Special Order No from the Bureau current date Jan. 13. Brevet Col. R Saxton U.S.A. is ordered to make a thorough inspection of the Officer and Agencies of the Bureau in the State of South Carolina, and make a full report thereof.

Louisiana. State of affairs.

From the "New Orle[ns?] Tribune (official organ of the Republican party of Louisiana) of the 6th. instant, the following [illegible] substance is extracted. - All over the State of Louisiana, militia companies, faithful re-pro-

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Georgia Proposed new system of Laws

code, is spoken of by the General as an accom plished Christian gentleman, who at his in stance removed from the Code that had been outlined the objectionable features so suggest ive of the Code passed for analogous purposes by the Legislature of South Carolina.

As it now stands, this Code, with a few ex ceptions, receives the Generals approbation; but he apprehends, from the State of public Sen timent in Georgia, that it will be badly m[u?] tilated before becoming a law.

It provides, among other things, for the striking out from the statute books of all statues, regulations and municipal enactments concerning slaves; for the granting, to persons of color, of the right to acquire, own, and dispose of property; to sue and be sued; to give their testimony under oath in all civil cases where the rights etc, of colored persons are involved, and to be protected in their persons and property; also for the establishment of County Courts the judges of which to be sworn to administer justice impartially without regard to race or color; also for the legalizing of marriage relations between all persons of color who are living together as man and wife; also for the regulations of the parental and filial relations, among persons of color, by requiring parents to maintain their children whether legitimate or illegitimate; and children to be subjected to the same obligations in regard to their parents as those which exist in relations to white persons; also for the regulations of Contracts etc, between masters and servants, and masters and apprentices; also for the punishment of offences by persons of color.

Genl Tillson's letter closes with the expression of a hope that Congress will soon so legislate as to secure to well disposed and industrious freed-people the right to home and lands of their own.

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Virginia Outrages upon Freed-people in 6th and 7th Districts

On the 11th instant, Col. Brown, Asst Comm'r, forwarded to the Commission er copies of reports of outrages committed on freed-people in the Sixth (6th) and Seventh (7th) Districts of Virginia; the Superintendent of the Bureau for the former District reporting five cases, and the Superintendent of the later District reporting seventeen cases of flagrant outrage.

Florida Col. Osborne's plan for Conolozing the Freed-people

ON the 1st inst. Col. Osborne, Asst. Comm'r, forwards to the Commissioner his plan for colonoying the freed-men in Florida; This plan comprehends the purchase by the United States, of so much of the State as lies South of the 28th degree latitude; the organization of this tract into a territory with a territorial Government, and the settlement upon it, if necessary of 115.000 one hundred and fifteen thousand families, each with a homestead of about Eighty acres.

Alabama Letter from L.F. Wellen

On the 20th inst. the Commissioner received a letter from L.F. Wellen, dated Montgomery Ala. Jan 13th in which the letter reports the progress of his "tour" through the South, alluding to the condition of affairs at each of the following points, Viz. Atlanta, Macon Georgia; and Montgomery Alabama. At Atlanta, he found a large number of destitute and suffering blacks and whites, whose

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three hundred and ninety three (393) orphans apprenticed.

Alabama Intelligence Offices

On the 18th inst, in reply to a communication from Brevet Col. Woodhul, General Swayne, Asst Comm'r, states that in three places in the State, there are in operation Intelligence Offices or their equivalents that every agent of the Bureau has been instruct to furnish aid in procuring Employment for freedmen; and that the Asst Superintendent in Montgomery is furnishing at the rate of fifty per day to those who need them and are responsible parties

South Carolina Gen Saxton forwards commu nication in regard to Mr. Middleton's Claim

On the 15th. inst. General Saxton, Asst Comm'r, forwards communication of Capt James P. Low. A.Q.M. with its enclosure being a letter from Mr. R.N. Gourdin in which the later withdraws from the Board ordered for the adjustment of Mr. Middleton's claim.

Capt. Low forwards Mr. Gourdin's letter to Gen. Saxton without other remark than that Mr. Gourdin registered three officers proposed by himself, and believed to be unbiased and unprejudiced, and that he rejected General Sickles and Major Roy, nominated by Mr Gourdin; the first on the ground of disproportioned rank, and the second because so ordered by the Asst Commissioner Mr Gourdin asserts it is impracticable to organize a board of referees to which Mr. Middle-

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South Carolina

ton's claim should be submitted, because, among other reasons, the persons chosen to adjust the differences between the Bureau and Mr. Middleton are connect ted with the issue, and "within the influence of the feeling and temper which dispute invariably engenders" and "to bring Mr. Middleton's claim before a Board thus constituted would not have taken it out of the Bureau" as he is persuaded General Howard designed it should be, when he ordered the reference, and therefore he withdraws from the Board, order ed for its adjustment

Georgia Condition of the Freedmen

On the 13th instant, General Tillson, Asst. Comm'r, forwards copies of letters from Maj. Hastings, A.T.A. Comm'r at Alba ny, Georgia, and from one of his citizen agents. Maj Hastings has just returned from Decatur and Mitchell Counties. In the former county, he finds the condition of the freed men a satisfactory one. In the later, on account of the destitu tion of the whites, the freedmen had nearly all left. In two other Counties he finds a great call for laborers, homes and good wages awa ing from three hundred (300) to five hundred (500) hands. The planters he met were in high spirits and sanguine as to the freedmen wor[k?] ing for them.

Mr. James Davison, the citizen agent of the Bureau for Greene and Ogletrop Counties reports having approved a number of contracts in the later County, also that he has given his entire attention to advancing the general interests of the freedmen in his jurisdiction, and has, as he thinks, overcom[e?] obstinacy from the one side, and indifference from the other. Whenever practicable, he has had "talks" with the freedmen, and

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the result is that nearly all have made contracts, and have homes for the present year, with the exception of the unfortunate classes of women, children, the aged, the decrepid, and orphans These classes are a source of much solicitude and trouble.

Georgia Condition of the Freedmen

He further states, that the contracts on the large farms, generally, are made for from one quarter (1/4) to one half (1/2) of the crops; one third (1/3) being the usual rate; and that the freedmen appear, in most instances, pleased and contented with such an arrangement.

Florida Col. Osborn's Report

On the 31st ult. Col. Osborn, Asst. Comm'r, forwards his Report of the affairs of the Bureau for Florida, for the month of December 1865.

He considers the general condition of the of the affairs of the Bureau, and the official relations between himself and the Department Commander and Provisional Gov. ernor as eminently Satisfactory.

Most of the crops have been gathered in, and the planters have honorably adhered to their contracts. Many of the laborers prefer to receive their pay in money, or else to let the planters have for its value, a large proportion of the crops which falls to their share, the greater proportion of the able bodied freedmen receiving, by the means, from twenty five to one hundred dollars each, while nearly all have been supported on the plantations.

New-year having passed without any realization of the expected distribution of lands, contracts

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for the present year are being rapidly entered into by the freedmen.

Florida Favorable condition of Freedmen

As the high price of Cotton is inducing planters to offer good wages for the year's labor, the average wages are likely to be twelve dol lars a month for first class hands, and comparitive ly few freed people will be on charity.

A large number of freedmen are coming into the State from Georgia

Hostility to the rights of the freedmen on the part of a majority of the members of the legislature is reported

Circular No. 9. Its results

The system inaugurated by the prescription of Circular No. 9. (relative to the appointment of Judges of Probate, and Justices of the Peace, as Agents of the Bureau) is working well. In connection with these appointments a system of inspection was instituted; the State being divided for this purpose, into five Districts. Two of the agents have finnished inspection tours and reported.

They were satisfied with the condition and pros pects of the freedmen, wherever they went, except in lower or Southern Florida where the white cit izens were acting badly.

Schools

Rations were issued during the month, only at the Hospital at Jacksonville, and the Asylum at Fernandina. The approximate number of rations issued in the State since June last is given at seventy-nine thousands, and four hun dreds, and seventy five (79.475.); There are ten (10) schools, (located at Jacksonville, Saint Augustine, Fernandina, Tallahassee, Lake City, and Gainesville) twenty one (21) teachers, and nine teen hungred and eighteen (1.918) scholars in the State.

More teachers are needed.

South Carolina

On the 15th instant, General Saxton, Asst. Comm'r. forwards a report of outrages upon freed people, and of the

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South Carolina

condition of affairs in the various Distric[ts?] of South Carolina, based upon reports receiv ed from the A.S.A. Comm'r and Agents of the Bureau in South Carolina, for December 1865. In Anderson District an outrage brutal and horrible in the extreme is reported. In July, a planter proposed to his hands that they should sign a contract to work for him during their life time, and upon their refusing drove them away without food or compensation for labor done.

Murdering freedmen: and inhuman outrage - upon a freed woman in Anderson District

Four (4) of them, three (3) men, and one (1) woman, went towards Columbia, and on their way were over-taken by two men mounted and armed, who shot, and killed two of the men, the third escaping, took the woman - then pregnant - stripped her, tied her to a tree, gave her fifty lashes, and then compelled her to return to the plantation where she was put at the plow by day, and confined by night, for a week, wihtout food, until an officer happened that way, who sent the woman to Charleston where she soon after gave birth to a dead infant. - The planter paid the mur ders for their services with twenty yards cloth, three bushels of rice, two bushels of salt, and a government wagon - This case has been turned over to the Department Commander with the request that the murderers be brought to justice.

In Beaufort District, several disturban ces are reported

In Charleston District quite a number of cases of injustice, and one of brutal outrage are reported.

In Columbia District the Officers reports alarming destitution, and less complaints of brutal treatment. Planters and freedmen are disposed to come to terms; schools are flourishing, and the number of scholars are increasing.

In Georgetown District, as the cold weather

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