Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-11-19
Can Free Labor Grew Gotten 1.-The CUES.
tion answered BY Gen. Thomas.
Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.
U .surNcrnN Nov IL 1Sco

| WASHINGTON, Nov. II, 1868.
The following report has been received
from Adjutant Gen Thomas
NATCEEz, Miss. Oct Is. 1853
SIR: l recently passed few DAYS at Good
rich's Landing, La, fifty miles above Vicks-
burg. Ny purposes being to ascertain the
| condition of leased plantations, to what ex-
tent the cultivation Of cotton has been car
| ried on, and especially to know whether the
cultivation Of plantations could not be car
ried on as yell By hired freemen as by slaves,
| The gathering of cotton is now in full on
| Grafton and it may be too soon to report fill
| " the result, but facts in my possession are
| sufficient for a judgment on the experiment..
as previously reported
The season had advanced fully two months
| bevond 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 labored under great
disadvantage in this respect, for most of them
had just to run the furrow to plant seed, then
plant corn, relying on subsequent time to
break up the ground between the burrows of
cotton and eXterminate the weeds,
The necessity of Withdrawing troops from
Louisiana to augment the force operating
some sixty in all, without adequate protection
when the rebels made an attack on Miliken's
Bend, where they were signally defeated, and
| made raids on plantations, scattering and
driving Oft negroes and stock.
This occurred at time when it was imnOr-
tant to cultivate crops. Some time elapsed
before the hands could be collected, and they
were induced to recOmmenCe 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
overlapping 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 of
| the lessees will lose money, but all derive a
| profit.
l know that they are satisfied with this ex-
pertinent All desire to release for another
| year. The negro lessees, of whom there are
| some fifteen, will make from four and five
| bales, up to, in one case, 1907 and it is a
| fact that the cotton they have raised for
| themselves, owing to its better cultivation, is
| Of d eigher grade than that Of the white les
sees. Some Of the negroes have cultivated
| by themselves and families, whilst others have
employee their fellow freedmen The freed
men haue worked for wages according to the
| scale fixed upon by the Board of Commission
ers, and at higher rate, | understand, than
| was adopted in the Department of the Gulf
| They have been well and more abundantly
! fed than they were when held in slavery
! Schools have been established upon planta-
| lions. Lesees have felt it their duty by eve
| ry proper means, to cultivate this unfortu-
nate race. As a general rule they prefer
working with northern men whom they re-
| gard as their friends, to work along with
southerners, even if their former owuers.
and | hazard nothing in saying, that the net
proceeds on crop by northerner who has
| paid his hands wages, will exceed that of
| southerner who has cultivated by slave, the
| number Of acres being the same in both cases
| Those employed have thus been of no ex-
pense to the Government, but have supported
| themselves and families. They are perfectly
| contented, and look forward with hope to
| their future elevation of character.
| The experiment was adopted hastily, and
| from necessity with many misgivings, and
| now regard it as a complete success.
The number of bales of cotton raised on
these plantations will not much if any fall
short of 5000 bales, giving to the Govern
| ment the sum of $4,000 as a revenue The
lesees will also pay to the Quartermaster's
Department, for mules, utensils, &C., furnish
ed or found on the place, some 100000.
The charge, in lieu of rent, is two dollars per
bale, making $4,000. The Governments
share ON some plantations abandoned by le-
sees may sell for S15O,O0O. | desire this
money, or much may be necessary, to
be set aside as a fund, necessary to pay the
expenses of this year and of the year COM
mencing January l, 1864 1t is a significant
fact that while transports On the river have
been frequently fred into by rebels, not a
single shot has been fred from that line of
the river covered by these plantations, ex-
tending for seventy-fve miles above Vicks-
burg, which shows the Importance to COM
merce Of lining the rivers with a loyal popu-
laton.
| have, sir, the honor to be, very respect
fully, Your obedient servant,
L. THOMAS, Adj't Gen'l.