The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-11-21
Report OF Adjutant General Thomas
ON FTeedmen's Labor.
NATcHEz, Miss, Oct. Is, >

NATcHEz, Miss, Oct. Is, '63.
SIn:-I recently passed few DAYS a,
Goodrieh's Landing, Louisiana, SO mile,
above Vicksburg, one of my purposes be
ing to ascertain the condition. of th,
leased plantations, to what extent the cul
tivation of cotton has been carried on, and
especially to know whether the cultiva-
ton Of plantations could not be carried. on
as well by hired freemen is by slaves
The gathering of cotton is now in full OBJ
GRAFTON, and it may be too soon to report
fully on the result, but the facts in nv
possession are suficien: for judgment
on the experiment. AS previously re-
ported, the season has advanced fully two
months from the time the cotton should
have been planted. which was unavoida-
BILE, although the system was put in ope-
ration as soon after my coming to this
country as was possible. The lessees,
therefore, labored under great disadsan-
tages in this respect. for most Of them
had just to run the furrow to plant seed
and then plant their corn, relying on sub.
sequent time to break up the ground be.
tween the burrows of cotton, and elimi.
nate the weeds.
The necessity Of Withdrawing the troops
from Louisiana to the immediate force
operating agains; Vicksburg left line Of
plantations, some 60 in all, without ade.
quate protection, when the rebels made
their attack on Miliken's Bend, when
they were signally defeated, and made
raids on tie plantations, scattering and
driving off negroes and sto K. This oc.
Cured at a time when it was important
to cultivate the crops. Sometime elapsed
before the hands could be collected and
induced to recommsnce work. The con.
sequence was near one half of the crops
were not worked at all, and ia other ca
ses where some work was done the weeds
aud plants had to grow up together. the
tall weeds overlooking the plants. The
army worm attacked all the late cotton
and destroyed from one. fourth to one half
OF the crops. Still, under all these dis.
advantages. not one of the lessees will
lose money, but all derive a profit. n
know that they are all satisfied with thi.
experiment. All desire to release for
another year. The colored lessees. Of
whom there are Is, will make from to
o bales up to, In one case, $50, and it ia
q TACT that the cotton they have raised for
themselves, owing to better cultivation
Is of higher grade than that Of ths
white lsssecs.
BONE negroes have cultivated by them.
selves and their families, whilst o,bsr.
have employed their fellow freedmen =
The freedmen have all worked for wages
according to scale fixed upon by the
Board Of Commissioners, and at higher
rate, ! understand. than was adopted in
the Department of the Gulf. They have
been we'll and more abundantly fed than
they were when held in slavery. Schools
have been established on the plantations
and the lessees have the means to cnl,;.
vate this unfortunate race. Asa general
RUE they prefer working with Northarn
men, when they regard Is their frien6.
to working with Southerners, even their
former owners; and hazard nothing in
saying that the net proceeds on 4 cron
by Northerner who has paid his hands |
wages, will exceed that of Eouther.e.
who has cultivated by slaves, the sumber |
OF acres being the same in both cssss.-l
Those employed have thus been Of no ex. |
pense to the Government, but have sup- |
ported themselves and families. Thsy !