The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-11-19

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CaH Free Labsr Grow Cotton F-s--T he
| One SnOn Answered by GeH. Thomas.
WASHINGTON, Nov. II, 1868.
The following report has been received
from Adiutant General Thomas:
NAToHEz, Miss, Oct. 10, 1868.
SIR: IrecentIy passed few days at Good
Irichs Landing, La, fifty miles above Vicks-
burg. My purposes being to acertain the con
EDITION of leased plantations, to what extent
, The cultivation Of cotton has been carried on,
and especially to know whether the cultiva.
ton Of plantations could not be carried on as
i well by hired freemen as by slaves.
The gathering of cotton is now in full ope
ration, and it may be too soon to report fully
the result but facts in my possession are suf
ficient for judgment on the experiment. as
previously reported.
The season had advanced fully two months
| beyond the time cotton should have been
| planted, which was unavoidable, although the
system was put in operation as soon after my
coming to this country as was possible.
| The lessees therefore Iabored under great
| disadvantage in this respect, for most of them
had just to run the furrow to plant seed, ther
plant corn, relying on subsequent time to break
| up LuO SIOullu DGtHC6Il Ilt IuTTOWS Vi COLLOI
and exterminate the weed.
The necessity of withdrawing troops from
Louisiana to augment the force operating
against Vicksburg, left this line of plantations
some sixty in all, without adequate protection
when the rebels made an attack on Milliken'I
Bend, where they were signally defeated, anc
made raids on plantations, scattering and driv.
ling OFT negroes and stock.
|
tant to cultivate crops. Some time elapsed
before the hands could be collected, and they
were induced to recomInence work. The con
sequence was, fully one-half of the crops were
not worked at all, and in other cases where
some work was done the weeds and plants
had to grow up together, the i'll weeds over
tapping the cotton plant.
The army worm attacked all late cotton,
destroying from quarter to half Of the crops
| Still under all these disadvantages not one o
the lessees will lose money, but all derive
profit.
| | know that they are satisfied with the ex
pertinent All desire to release for anothe
year. The negro lessees, of whom there ar,
some fifteen, will make from four and fly,
bales, up to, in one case, $50; and it is fac
that the cotton they have raised for themselves
lowing to its better cultivation, is of highe
than that of the white lessees. Some of tn
negroes have cultivated by themselves ant
families, whilst others have employed ths
lfellowfreed1nen. The freedmen have worke'
for wages according to the scale fixed upol
by the Board of Commissioners aud at high
er ratio, | understand, than was adopted il
the Department of the Gulf. They have beef
well and more abundantly fed than they wer
when held in slavery. Schools have been es
tablished on plantations. Lessees have fel
it their duty by every proper means, to cult
vate this unfortunate race. As a general rule
they prefer working with northern men whom
they regard as their friends, to work alon
with southerners, even if their former masters
and [ hazard nothing in saying, that the he
proceeds on a crop by a northerner who ha
paid his hands wages, will exceed that of
southerner who has cultivated by slave, tn
number Of acres being the same III both cases
Those employed have thus been of no ex
lpense to the Government, but have SUPPORTS
themselves and families. They are pcrfectl
Q contented, and look forward with hopeto thei
f future elevation Of character.
The experiment was adopted hastily, an
from necessity with many misgivings, and
DOW regard it as q complete success.
2 The number of bales Of cotton raised o
these plantations will not much if any ia
f short of.8.000 bales, giving to the government
! the sum OF $15, 600 as q revenue. The lessee
will also pay to the Quartermaster's Depart
q ment, for mules, utensils, &C., furnished c
Y found on the place, some 800, 900. The charg
q in lieu of rent is two dollars per bale, MAX
!, ing SIG, 00O The Governments share on som
: Fluctuations abandoned by lessees may sell fc
a $4,000. l desire this money, or as niue
f as may be necessary to be set aside as q fun(
r necessary to pay the expenses of this year an
Of the year commencing January l, 1864.
is a significant fact that while transports o
{ the river have been frequently fired into b
rebels, not single shot has been fired fror
that line Of the river covered by these plants
8 tons, extending for seventy-five miles abov
T Vicksburg, which slows the importance t
e commerce of lining the rivers with 10y;
g population.
), have, sir, the honor to be, very respectful
e ly Your obedient servant,
IS L. THOMAS, Adj't Genl
e Hon. e. NJ. Stanton, Secretary of War