Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-09-22
The Freedmen of South Caroli1a

The crops are now 40 far advanced on the oea
Islands that an accurate return Of the number oil
acres under cultivation has been made, which
shows the industry of the freed blacks. Below
we print lew Of the figures OF this oihclal re-
turn.
The colored population Of the Department OF
the South is, according TO recert census, over
| fifteen thousand Of this number, two thousand
are soldiers under ams-that is to say one sol
der for every seven and half OF the population
| All the other abe-boded men are employed 10
the Quarermaster', Department Or the remain,
der composed Of women and children and OLD
and in6rm persons, three thou.and eight hundred
and thirty-two live in towns or villages 800 10
| Beaufort, 800 in MitcheylIle near Hilton Head,
800 10 ST. Augustine and | 1882 in Fernandlna
| Eight thousand nine hundred and thirteen live
on plantations on the South Carolina sea islands
in our possession. These eight thousand nine
| hundred and thirteen women, children, aged and
infrm, live on one hundred and sxty-two pIanla'
TONS and cutiyate during the present season,
fourteen thousand one hundred and thiTty-hYe
acres Of land. Of the plantations, one hundred
an thirteen are worked under government su'
perntendence thrty-f'e on private account, IN
der white land owners, and eight on private &C.
count by the black owners
Four thousand four hundred and eight acres Of
land are planted in cotton. OF these the blacks
have planted 1856 acres on their own account, on
their eight plantations. Seven thousand four
hundred and twenty-five acres are ID corn Lay
in sweet potatoes which yield, however, second
crop not reckoned in thsreturn III in cowpeas !
100 in oats, new crop, which is failure l6l
in rice 273 acres 10 peanuts, and 239 devoted to
melons and other garden fruits and vegetables.
TIE average number Of acres cultivated by each
working hand on the plantations is three and
ifty.oae hu0dredths the average number to
( each person Of the total Plantation population IS
one aud fity.eght hundredths. If the reader
will remember that the working hands are women,
young boys and girls, and old men-thoL part Of
: population which is with us counted as but
to small extent seltsupportng-he will not
omit to give credit to these people for Industry
and energy. Nor will he fail to see how immense
an advantage to the rebels is slave population
Of three mil lions, in which women and children
as well as the men, aye trained to labor in the
fields and how decisive Of the struggle was the
adoption Of IA policy by our government which
constantly disorganizes this vast and ethclen! Ia
boring force
The eight plantations bought by the blacks ard
worked entirely by themselves are reported to be
under thorough and successful cultivation. The
people upon them work and receive in common
a plan which ha, never been found practically sue
cessful elsewhere and would probably fail if the
attempt were continued too long there. But fol
the present all are so full ofjoy and energy thai
they bear with each other and do not quarrel.
The people are making and spending a goot
deal of money. Their wants are extending a
fast as their means and the sales accounts at th'
,tores on the islands show a large increase
. both in amount and in the variety Of articles pur
chased, over last year. The zeal Of the people Il
serve the government which has given them lib
erty, is shown in many ways; as well as thei
readiness to do all they can for the comfort of TN
soldiers; When the wounded were brought L
Beaufort, after The attack on Font Wagner, TIL
women of the island sent in q large quantity o
vegetables and fruit for their use in three days
more than five hundred melons we're sent in, viii
corn and fruit in proportion Evening Post.