Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-12-29
Renort of Lieut. Gen. Grant.
WHAT HE IEAKsKD DURING HIS SOUTHERN TRIP.
HkADouARrERs, Army of the United States, }
December Is 1865. 4

HKADouARTERs, Army of the United States,
December is. 1866.
To his excellency, Andrew johnson, president
OF the United States-Sir In reply to your
note of the 10th inst, requesting report from
me, giving such information as | may be pos
sessed of, coming within the scope of the in
quiries msde by the Senate of the United States
in their resolution Of the 18th inst. have the
honor TO submit the following, with your ap- |
prevail and also that of the honorable secretary |
Of war / left Washington city on the 18th |
Of last month, for the purpose of making tour |
Of inspection throughout some Of the southern |
states lately in rebellion, and to see what chang
es were necessary in the disposition Of the mill
tary forces Of the country, how these forces |
could be reduced, expenses curtaied, sc, and |
to learn as far as possible the feelings and in
tentons Of the citizens Of these states towards |
the general government. The state of Virginia |
being so accessible to Washington city, and in
formation from this quarter therefore being |
readily obtained, l FASTENED through that state
without conversng or meeting with any Of its
citizens. In Raleigh, n. c., | spent one day,
in Charleston, SC, two days, and in Savannah
and Augusta, Ga. each enc day. Both in travel
ing and whilst stopping, saw much and con-
yersed freely with the citizens Of those states as
well as with o!hcers of the army who had been
stationed among them. The following are the
conclusions come to by me;
am satisfied that the mass of thinking men
Of the South accept the present situation OF
affairs in good faith. The questions which have
hitherto divided the sentiments of the people of
the two sectons-slayery and state rights, and
the right Of the state to seeede from the Union
they regard as having been settled forever by
the highest tribunal-arms-tha man can resort
to. | was pleased to learn from leading men
whom met, that they not only accepted the
decision arrived at as final, but believe, now
that the smoke of battle has cleared away and
time has been given for reflection, that this
decision has been fortunate one for the whole
country, they receiving the like benefits from
it, with those who opposed them on the field and
in council Four years of wsr, during which
the laws were executed only at the point of the
bsyouet throughout the states in rebellion, have
left the people possibly in condition not to
yield that leady obedience to civil authority the
American people have generally been in the
habit Of yielding, This would render the pres
ence Of small garrisons throughout these states
necessary, until such time labor returns to
its proper channel, and civil authority is fully
established. l did not meet any one, either
among those holding places under the govern
meat, or citizens of southern states, who thought
it practicable TO withdraw the military from the
South. At present, whites and blacks mutually
req lire the protection Of the general government
There is such universal acquiescence in the au-
thority Of the general government throughout
the portions Of the country visited by me, that
the mere presence of military force, without
regard to numbers, is sufficient 10 maintain
order. The good Of the country requires that
force be kept in the interior where there are
many freedmen. Elsewhere in the southern
states except at the forts upon the sea coast, no
force is necessary.
They should ali be white troops. The reasons
for this are obvious, without mentioning many
Of then The presence OF black troops, lately
slaves, demoralizes labor. both by their advice
and by furnishing in their camps resort for
the freedmen for long distance around. White
troops generally excite no opposition, and there
fore a small number of them can maintain order
in gwen district. Colored troops must be
kept in bodies sufficient to defend themselves.
1t is not the thinking men who would do vio-
lence towards any class of troops, sent among
them by the general government, but the ignor-
ant in some places might, and the late slave, too
who might be Imbued with the idea that the
property of his late master should by right be-
long to him, at least should have no protection
from the colored soldier. There is danger
o. a collision beng brought on by such
causes.
Ny observations lead me to the conclusion
that the citizens Of the southern states are anx-
ious TO return 10 selfgovernment within the
Union as soon as possible; that, whilst recon
structng, they want and require protection
from the government that they think il is re-
CURED by the government and is not humiliating
to them as citizens and that If such course
was pointed cut, they would pursue it in good
faith. 1t is to he regretted thst there cannot be
a greater commingling, at this time, between
the citizens Of the two sections, and particularly
Of those entrusted with the law-making power.
did not give the operations of the freed
mems bureau that attention | would have done,
if more time had been at my disposal. CONVEX
sations, however, the subject, with officer
connected with the bureau led me 10 think that
in some states its affairs have not been conduct
ed with good judgment and economy, and that
the belief, widely spread among the freedmen Of
the southern states that the lands OF their
former owners will, at least III part, be divided
among them, has come from agents Of the bu
reau This belief is seriously interfering with the
willingness Of the freedmen TO make contracts
for the coming year. In some form, the freed
mems bureau is absolute necessity, until
civil law is established and enforced, securing to
freedmen their rights and full protection. At
present, however, it is independent of the mill
tary establishment of the country, and seems
to be operated by the different agents of the
bureau, according to their individual notions
Gen Howard, the able head of the bureau, made
friends everywhere by the just and fair instruc-
tons and advice he gave, but the complaint in
South Carolina was that when he left they went
on as before
Many, perhaps the majority of the agents of
the freetmen's bureau, advise the freedmen
that by that own industry they must live. To
this end they endeavor to secure employment for
them. and see that both contracting parties COM
pay with their engagements. in some cases, am
sorry to say, the freedmens minds do not seem
TO be disabused Of the idea that the freedman
has the right 10 live without care or provision
for the future. The effect of belief in the d.
vision of lands is idleness and accumulation in
camps, towns and cities. Ia such cases | think
il will be found that vice and disease viii tend
to the determination or great destruction Of the
colored race 1t cannot be expected that opin-
ions held by men at the South for years, can be
changed in day, and therefore the freedmen
require, for few years, not only laws to pro-
tect them, but the fostering of those whoiNll
give them good counsel, and on whom they 60
rely The freedmen's bureau being se..casel
from the military establishment Of tae country
requires all the expense of a separase o-ganiza-
tion. One does not necessarily know what tho
other IS doing, or what ppierG they are acting
under, II seems 10 NE tbls could be corrected
By regarding every officer On duty with troops
in the southern states as agents Of the freed
mems bureau, and then have all orders from
the head Of the bureau sent through the de-
partment commanders. This would create uni
formity of action throughout the South, would
insure the orders and instructions from .ae
head Of the bureau being carried out and
would retire from duty and pay a larg,. nIuber
of the employees Of the government. 4 have the
honor to be. very respectfully Jour obedent
servant, .'''
o. S. GRAM, lieutenant General,