The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-12-04
DECEMBER 4. 1868.
Report from Adjutant General Thomas
OIL Freedmen's Labor.
The following report has been received

i ne IOiiONlnE VSpOIt uhs Uetu ICCciNCu
from Adjutant General Thomas:
NATcHEz. Miss, Oct, 10, 1868.
"Sm. l recently passed a few days at
Goodrich's Landing, Louisiana, 30 miles
above Vrcksburg, one of my purposes being
to ascertain the condition OF tho leased
plantations. to what extent the cultivation Of
cotton has been carried on aud especially to
know whether the cultivation of plantations
could be carried on as we'll by hired freed
men as by slaves. Tho gathering OF cotton
is now in full operation, and il may 10 too
soon TO report fully on tho result, but tho
facts In my possession arc sufficient for a
judgmen, on tho experiment.. As previous
" reported. the season has advanced fully
two months from tho time the cotton should
have been piantei. which was unavoidable,
although tho system was put in operation
MS soon after my coming to this country, as
was possible. The l%esses. therefore, laborcd
under great disadvantages in this respect.
for most of them had just to run the iurtow
20 plant their corn, relying on consequent
time to break up the ground between tbs
burrows of cotton, and eliminate tho weeds.
The necessity OF withdrawing tho troops
from Louisiana to tho immediate force OPP
Grating against Vlcksburg, left a limo of
plantations some si4ty iu all, without ade-
quate protection. whom tho robels made
their attack on Milllkun's Bend, when thuy
were sigaaiIy defeated and made raids on
the plantations, scattering and driving of
the negroes and stock. This occurred at u
time whom it was important to cultivate tho
crops. Some time elapsed before the hands
could be- collected and induced to recon.
mence work.
Tue consequence was, near one .helf of
the crops were not worked at oil, and IN
other cases where some other work was
done tho weeds and plsuts had to grow ny
together, tho tall woods overlooking tho
plants. The army worm attacked all the
late cotton and destroyed from ono, fourth
70 one.haif of tho crops. Sill undor all
these disad vantages, not one of the losses
will lose money, but all dorive q profit. |
know that they are satisfied with this ex.
pertinent. All desire 10 re. lease for anorh.
or year. Tho cOlored %lessos, of whom there
nre 1t, mako from four or five bales up to,
in ore case, one hundred and fifty, aud it ia
aiact that the cotton they raised for them.
sclvs, owing to better cultivation, is of high.
er grade than that of tho white Iesses.-
EnuNa IS Nha ,..,. -. .I:. =
Themselves and their families, whilst others
have employed their fellos freedmen. Tho
freedmen have all worked for wages, &C.
cording 30 a scale fxod upol by the Board
of Commissioners, and at a higher rate, |
understand, than was adopted ia tho De-.
partment of the Gulf. They have been we'll.
aud botter fed than ihoy wero whom mold in
slavery. Schools have been established
upon tho plantations, and rho lessts hare
means to cultivate :ass Iufc-tanAtc rice
As q general rule they prefer ~otkiss nth
Northorn men. whom thev regard as their
friends, to working with Southcrners. even
with their former owners ; and they hazard
nothing In saying that the net proceeds on
n crop by u Northerner who bas paid his
hands wages viii exceed that of u Southern.
or who has cultivated by slaves. Tho GUN
Der OF acres being the same in both cases
Those employed have thus been Of no tx.
penso to tho Government, but hayo sup
ported themselves and families. They are
perfectly crntoutcd. and look forward with
hope to IA future elevation of charactor.-
The expert ment, adopted hastily and from
necessity, with many misgivings, | now re-
gard as a complete success. The number
of bales of cotton raised on these plantations
will not much, If any, fall shor. of 1000
bales, giving to the government tho sum OF
$50 600 of a revenue. Tho lessos will also
pay to tho quartermaSter's Department for
mules, and utensils furnished or found on
tho place 300, 900. The charge in lieu OF
rent is So a bsle. Sl7 900. Tho Govern,
ment sharc on so:no tow plantations aban
donod by the lesses may sell for Sslo 900. |
desire that this money, or as much Of it os
may be necessary, DO set aside as a fund nee.
ossary to pay tho expenses OF this oar COM
m%oncing January LIST. 1864.
IL is II significant fact that wbilo trans
ports on the river have boon frequently fred
into by tho rebels, not q single shot has
been fired from that limo of the river GOV.
ercd by these plantations. extending forty.
I'VE miles above Vrcksburg, winch shows
tho Importance to m of lining tho
river with a loyal population.
have sir, the honor to DO worry respect
fully, your obediont servant.
l.. THOMAS. Adj't. Con.
Hon L. NJ. STANTON, Sec. of War.
JEFrERsoN's DEsCEKDASrs.-The Hon,
Hnnru s Rnnlnn al HnrLlnal MIL.