Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-09-14
The Condition Of Things in the
south.
From the baltimore Gazctte.l
SAXANNAlI. August 20,

tFrom the baltimore Gazcticl
SAvANNAiI, August 20, 1863.
SO many of the inhabitants ofthls section
of Georgia have been, for some time past,
entirely cut off from their plantations, that
information regarding the actual condition
of the estates is gladly received here The
following account gives u very good idea of
the true state of affairs. 1t is written by II
resident, who recently undertook visit to
a ncighboring plantation. The writer says |
"Not being satisfied with the statement |
had received of the condition of my rice
plantation, | determined to 20 and see the
real state Of things myself 1t was not con
sdcrcd safe to go alone, so procured II Fed !
cral soldier as guard. With him | left Sa- /
vannah. After passing the heavy line Of
| Notifications put up by the Fodcrals last
winter, We came upon the open road. On
every side there were the marks Of Shcr-
man army nothing but stumps left where
there bad been the deep shade of her oak
trees all the fences gone; where Farm houses
with their out buildings had given, u year
ago, AN idea of pleasant rustic comfort, there
stood few stones, perhaps a fruit tree, to
mark the spot. Our landmarks were all
away. The very aspect of the country
seemed changed. After Il long drive, we
turned into what had once been an avenue
OF oaks. Where were the trees? Meeting
Il negro, ! inquired of him. oh, he re
piled, the soldiers cut them all down and
burnt them | knew the house had been
burned together with the furniture, china,
linen and books, and not wishing to see the
blackcncd ruins, directed the driver to so
to the negro quarters. Here, also, were
great changes; many houses had been de-
sroycd; the negroes were living in huts
made of logs, with earth thrown over them,
one end opcn, and no chimney. Some were
glad to see me Others eyed all my move
ments with suspicion and distr,lst. A little
less than half the land was under cultiva-
ton aud had been planted in rice. Some
of this looked well The rest was over
grown with grass, and evidently needed the
work the negro was too lazy to bcstow.-
Almost all the trunks 10y which the tide of
the river is made to overflow the rice, were
broken or out Of order, and, generally, the
top part had been uscl for iircwood The
it will be almost impossible to flow the rice
anl bring it to perfection. Indeed, the
, whole crop in this vicinity will hardly give
the city OF Savannah and the darkes them
= selves sufficient rice for the next year, not
to mention the seed that must be reserved.
| | talked with several negroes rs to their fu-
ture plans. Their idea of freedom is no
work, except what is necessary for the cu-
: tivation of their little patches Of watermcl-
l ons aud okra. They arc not at all willing
G for their former owners to return and hire
them to work the land, which they now
/ firmly believe to be theirs, nor are they
5 willing to plant on shares Should they
even engage to work, under the most faithful
pledges, they might leave you ut tile mos,
important momcnt, alleging that the work
did not suit them.
# II found nearly fifty new graves, They
:, have no doctor and no medicine. The small
II poy has ragged among them, and the wau
It and discomfort have been terrible. They
l. had torn down one side Of their chapel &c
If make coIiins. Many Of them said to me, ii
c you had only been here, you would have
$ taken care Of us; but though they desire
= that care and attention still, they seem tt
c feel that all accountability Oh their part tc
II you is at an end
: "Sncc my return to the city have talked
If with several planters. Most Of them think
IL free labor will never succeed in the cultiva
ton of rice, and that the great expense tn,
rs planter will be obliged to incur will never
II be repaid him by the crop. On account o
% the dilching and heavy harvest work tn,
e negro must be fed high, and plenty of mo
d lasscs, tobacco, bacon and vinegar. ThccX
le pcnsc Of these, together with wages and al
id the necessary outlay for repairs to machin
&C cry would leave the planter nothing to liv
- on. ] understand they will not only be re
is quicd by the Government to feed and coth'
- the working hands, but also TO provide to
n the children and old people. This, ercoursr
III arrangements are made, the plantations vii
If be idle, and the beautiful cultivation of tn
ld rice lands will fall into neglect and gradual
ID disappear from this section of country.
nc Until positive posscssiono of the plantation
TO is obtained, it is impoSsibcto to saywhat rcall
er can be done. New orders are continual
q being sent from the Frecdmcn's Bureau
which make the tenure of property very in
IS secure. The last one issued directs that a
ne abandoned and conliscatcd property is to b
ne divided into forty acre lots, portoned out t
10 the negroes, possession being given then
ly for three years. This will affect some ofth
ye lands in this neighborhood. Across the run
ht on the Carolina side, they must be irrctrioy
of ably lost to their former owners 1t is SUI
If posed that the inhabitants of Beaufort wi
,r not even be able to obtain their private res
nd licences, which they were obliged to abando
ms in 1861, at the time the Federal forces too
yu possession of Port Royal.
of This uncertainty bears hcaviyupon many
n whoseonly hope of comfortable maintenance
of for the future depends on the possession c
90 their rice estates. They are now entirely Il
X. the mercy of those who know and care littl
he of their need. The utmost Indifference
~ manifested for the welfare of the white,
ot and there is no evidence of any desire to r,
&C. store Southern property holders to the pos
,d tion of citizens of the United States. The
he are treated, on the contrary, as conquere
nd foes There is no attempt at paciicatio
tn whatever, and the only proof of the exis
n. ence ola republican form of government
n the mild sway of the sword, and the dit
rt. tatorial edict Of the Provost Marshal.
nt