Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-11-18
Cas Free Labor Crew Gotten s---The Ones
ten Answered By Gen. Thomas,
special Dispstch to the Chicago Tribune

ASHiNTIoN, Nov. IL, 1858.
The following report has been received
from Adiutant Gen. Thomas:
NATcHEz, Miss. Oct. ), 1868.
SIR: | 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, te 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
red on as sell by hired freemen a. by slaves
The gathering of cotton is now in full op-
Grafton, and it may be too soon to report fu!-
ly 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
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 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
against Yicksburg, left this line of plantations,
some sixty in all, without adequate protection
when the rebels made an attack on MilIiken's
Bend, where they were sgnally defeated, and
made raids on plantations, scattering and
driving OFF negroes and stock.
This occurred at a time when it was impor-
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
he,
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 viii lose money, but all derive a
profit.
| know that they are satisfied with this ex-
| pertinent. All desire TO release for another
year. The negro lesSeCs, of whom there are
| some fifteen, will make from four and five
| bales, up to, in one case, $50; and it is a
! fact that the cotton they have raised for
| themselves, owing to its better cultivation, is
| Of IA eigher grade than that of the white les
| sees Some of the negroes have cultivated
! by themselves and families, whilst others have
/ employee their tellow-treedmen. The freed
| men haue worked for wages according to the
| scale fixed upon by the Board of Commission
| ers, and at a higher rate, | understand, than
| was adopted in the Department of the Gulf.
| 1HcN nave Dccu wei anu more 3DuQuautlY
| 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, 10 work along with
| southerners, even if their former owuers
and / hazard nothing in saying, that the net
! proceeds on a crop by northerner who has
| paid his hands wages, will exceed that of a
| southcrner 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
| cOntcnted, and look forward with hope tC
| their future elevation of character.
| The experiment was adopted hastily, anG
| from necessity with many misgivings, and
now regard it as a complete success.
| The number of bales Of cotton raised OF
| these plantations will not much if any fail
short of 5000 bales, giving to the Govern
ment the sum of $4,000 as a revenue. The
lesees viii also pay to the Quartermaster':
| Department, for mules, utensils &c., furnish
| ed or found on the place, some 500, 600
| The charge, in lieu Of rent, is two dollars pei
| bale, making $4,000. The Government
! share on some plantations abandoned by lc
sees may sell for $4,000. I desire TIL,
money, or as much as may be necessary, tC
| be set aside as a fund, necessary to pay the
expenses Of this year and of the year com
mencing January /, 1861. II is a significant
fact that while transports on the river have
been frequently fired into by rebels not
single shot has been fred from that line o
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.
l have, sir the honor to be, very respect
| fully, Your obedient servant,
I. THOMAS Adj't Gen1.
Hon. Z. VI. Stanton, Secretary OF War.