The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-20
JOfr. DaYls' Plantation and the Freed
men.
GORE rondcn,e Toledo B.ade
JEFF DAVIS PLANTATION, }
March 81. 1854.

ttuift siunitn'e ieiedo h.atit.l
JrFf. DAVIS PLANTATION, }
March 81, 1864 !
Last June, when before Vickburg,
Gen. Grant suggested the ease with
which this Bend could be defended and
the dosirableness of making JEFF. Davis
plantation "a negro paradise" In
December last tie Bend was occupied
for that purpose Fanciful schemes,
projected in regard to the freedmen,
have operated against any practical
project toward that end Something,
however has been done. The neck land
connecting the Bend with the main land
is only 40 PAGES across and is safely
guarded by black troops.
When the war came on, the planta-
tons included were known as "The
Woods -the Turner and Quitman, the
jeff Davis and Joe. Davis, embrac-
ing it is thought by those most familiar
with the place, about 10000 acres Of cul-
tivated land.
Joe Davis was man of considerable
wealth. and gave his brother jeff some
years ago, a thousand acres lying along
the cast of his estate. Here jeff built
this house, as stated by his old servants
now here, about eighteen years since,
on the Southern plan-one story with
ample piazzas, or galleries as they call
them here, four large rooms in the cen
tire, and the. two rooms in each of the
two wings.
The architecture of the house is
neither specially attractive nor its ma
terial expensive. The trees around
were spared from the original forest
Vandalism made its appearance before
any regular occupation Of the place
shade trees were cut down, door knobs
and marble mantlcs were taken away
as relics.
Now the house Is occupied by the
superintendent and teachers of freed
men. Free labor and free schools are
prospering. Eleven teachers are on the
Bend About fifteen hundred acres of
land have been plowed some weeks
since. Twas originally intefided by
those in charge of freedmen that no
private interests should come here to
conflict with theirs The land was to
be divided into small farms TO be worked
by them as far as expedient) and what
ever remained was to be cultivated by
the common industry Of those depend
ent upon the Government.
The heirs Of the Quitman estate have
taken the amnesty oath and occupy
those lands, and the Treasury has leased,
very unadyisedly, it seems to me, a
portion of the Joe Davis place, leaving
only about three thousand acres for the
exclusive benefit OF the blacks.
Notwithstanding all obstacles, we
feel assured that here, where IS the
Traitors home, where treason was plot
ted and rebellion fostered for the per
petuation Of the most shocking abuses
known in any system of bondage, the
work Of liberation is to go steadily for
ward, illustrating not only the capacity
Of the people once slaves, but also the
principles upon which the whole South
must be restored, and the Union rem
dered perpetual by that harmony Of
institution acquired by unity and stamp
ed by the hand Of the Creator upon the
country we inhabit
Joe Davis plantation was called q
model jeff gave less attention to his.
Joe educated and settled wealth upon
some Of his illegitimate children. A
mulatto woman, more intimate with
jeff than it is proper to tell, has lately
received a.pass to go to Cincinnati. She,
it is affirmed, was a daughter of Joe.
NIATOR.