Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-12-28


could be. has been done in these cases.
The Government farms, i'm Maryland,
have been successfully managed. Thir-
I teen hundred acres have been cultivated.
Wheat, corn and tobacco comprise the
principal crops.
ask attention 10 Brev. Brig. Gen.
Eaton's report, as fall of suggestion and
interest. The attention OF Gov. Brad
4 ford was invited, by letter, TO the fire.
I duent complaints and appeals demanding
action, and the desire expressed 10 50 ar
range with his EXcellency that there
/ should 5e no conflict; bat that aid might
[ be afforded in maintaining justice and
! solving the peculiar questions arising in
Z the transition state.
Virginia.
Capt. Orlando Brown, A. Q. NJ, for
merly a surgeon in the volunteer army,
! was under detail from local commanders,
Z superintending freedmen's affairs in
! Southeastern Virginia. He was reputed
a man of high character and practical
ability. Though a stranger, he was so
/ highly recommended that l gave him
Z the nomination for Assistant Commis-
sioner of Virginia; he was appointed,
and subsequently promoted, by yourcon-
sent, 10 the Colonelcy Of the Twenty
fourth colOred regiment His field has
Z been exceedingly difficult, owing partic-
uiarly, to the great impoverishment Of
the State from war, the breaking up IF
every system of flabor, and the peculiarly
strong depression Of the people at its
close. No officer could have eXcelled
him IN action, energy and in the fidelity
with which he has pei-Jrmed the Oner-
Gus duties devolved upon him. He sepa-
rated his State lite districts and sub-dis-
tricts, conforming as nearly as possible
10 the divisions of the Department COM
msnder, and procured details mostly
from him.
The Department Commando, the
Governor and the Assistant Commis-
sioner have worked very cordially TO-
gether.
The aggregate dependents receiving
rations IN Virginia at the end Of last
month, was eleven thousand six hun
dred and twenty-five. More than half of
these dependents are in the first and
second districts, including Norfolk,
Princess. Ann, and Prince George coun-
ties.
In these counties there were neeessa-
rily large accumulations of rreedmen
during the war. Every effort has been
made bv the Assistant Commissioner to
reduce these collections, ana the great
majority have had an entire or partial
support, as the fruit of their own labor
during the summer.
Soldiers wives and families were left
behind, when the troops We're trans
ported from City Point to Texas. As
many Of these as were willing togo, were
sent 10 Texas al the public expense. a
colony of upwards Of a hundred signify
ing lis wish 10 go 10 Liberia, through a
Colored Agent, was transported from ]
10 Baltimore, where the
colonization society took the complete .
charge.
The last report gives ninety freedmen 1
schools, one hundred and ninety-fve F.
and eleven thousand five /
hundred scholars. l refer % Col. Browns Z
summary for other interesting items, /
with regard to contracts, justice, lands /
finances, etc.
North Carolina.
Col. E. Whitdesey, forty-sixth L. S. I
{. T., formerly a professor in BOWdOin
College, who had served, ON my staff
during the war, as Assistant-Adjutant- I
and afterwards as Judge AdvO- (
cate, a man Of high character and ability, I
was assigned as Assistant Commissioner .
Of this State. In his report fer the I
quarter ending September thirty, eigh- 4
teen hundred and siXty-five, he gives his I
division Of the State into four districts, 4
and twenty-ssven sub-districts; he states /
that large hunters of blacks and whites I
round the offices Of the Commits l
sary Department and the Bureau for
Tations, when he first took /
charge. Orders were Issued 10 supply
only the deserving destitute, and 10y con-
slant effort, the throng Of beggars has
been gradually removed the helpless
gathered into camps, and the sick into
hospitals.
The number Of rations issued in July, 4
two hundred and fifteen thousand two 4
and eighty-five August, one .
and tifty-siX thousand two hun /
dred and eighty-uine September, one !
and thirty-seven thousand three I
hundred and fifty. This table shows I
steady decrease from month TO month; /.
the number may be still further reduced. I
but there are many women and children, /
families Of soldiers who have died in the I
service, and refugees from the interior !
for whom provision must be made. /
Nearly four thousand patients have been /
taken care Of during the quarter by his 1
official officers. In regard 10 industry, !
a larger amount of vagrancy Is reported /
amongst the whites than the blacks. |
The uniform statement of his officers is /
that the freedmen are industrious. This 1
is confirmed by the fact that out of pop I
ulation Of three hundred and fifty thou /.
sand but five thousand are receiving aid |
from the Government.
Few contracts are made for long pc /
riods, from want of confidence between 4
and employees. The freedmen /
work more faithfully for money than for /
a share OF the crop for which they must |
wait Nearly all farms transferred by I
Treasury Agents ~ abandoned" have |
been, under orders, restored TO owners. 1
The tenure Of these has been too uncer- I
tain TO admit Of setting them apart for /
and freedmen. Many freedmen |
are renting lands, snd efforts are being /
shade to aid them.
The Assistant Commissioner is trying 4
to secure lands TO the freedmen where I
they built houses, TO prevent him losing /
what has been expended. A settlement I
made a municipality by bis direc10ns, + I
situated near Newbern, and called "The |
Trent River Settlement" 1t is a well !
quiet, healthy town, rivaling
Nevbern itself in this respect.
Number Of freedmen's schools in North I
Carolin, sixty-three; teachers employed, |
scholars attending, five /
thousand six hundred aud twenty-four. I
A few schools are self-sqpporting and 4
taught by colored teachers, but the ma
jority are sustained by northern societies I
and northern teachers.
The teachers are highly commended /
for their self-denying work. \ surpris-
ing thirst for knowledge is manifested by
the colored people, children give earnest
and learn rapidly, and the
the evening 10 study.
Marriages have been recorded, and Or
phans supplied with homes TO some 1
extent 4
south Carolina and GeOFgls.
Gen Rufus Saxton had, as you are I
aware, been during most Of the war in /
charge Of matters pertaining 10 freed !
men in south Carolina. The operations 1
Of the war enabled me 70 visit Beaufort 4
and st. Helena Islands during the wintei 4
Of eighteen hundred and dsixty-fOur-sixty I
five. and / was pleased with the setlle- 4
ment, labor, regulations and thriving 1
sch rris that ] found in existence under 4
his direction and supervision. Several /
thousand negro refugees, which have been /
before described a. following our armies, /
were received by him for the most part 4
In a state Of utter destitutiOn, distributed .
upon different vacant lands, and /
cared for till they became self sus-
tanning Judging by his past success Of 4
the Generals fitness for large work, /
gave 10 his charge South Carolina, Ge0r-
gia, and Florida, temporarily Col. os-
borne, the Assistant Commissioner for /
the latter State, met with serious acci- /
dent while ca route to his post, which 4
detained him for q courlg nf alouths 1
Owing 70 sickness, Gen. gaxton was de-
layed IN extending his organization into
the interior. A few officers and agents,
however, proceeded as early IS June to
Augusta, and farther west in Georgia.
Lately, Georgia aud South Carolina have
been completely organized. From South
Carolina, reports from the interior of the
sute are replege with instances OF vio-
leHee and cruelty towards the freedmen.
Murders, Thin1,ins l,i,.., I'm ing up by the
tilumD7, defrauding Of wages, over
wqrAhgi combining for purposes
OF Atoition, etc. From nav own OBJ
servation, do not infer that such crimes
and cruelties give true picture of fhe
state of society. Yet the criminal lisf Is
altogether too great TO pass unnotjeed