The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-15
FREEDMEN AND REFUGEES.
The Southwestern Departments
freedmen's Camps and Refugees
Homes Broken up--Of6ciaI Report
OF General Fisk.

The Southwestern Departments.
freedmen's Camps and Refugees
Homes Broken uP--Ofhcial Report
OF General Fisk.
BuRKkU REFUsEEs, FREEDxrS AND AssSDoNrr
LANDS, STATS OF kENTUCEv, UESNEssEz
AND n ALABAMA, ASSISTANT
COMMISSIONERS OFFICE.
NasHvILLE, TAM, Oct. 6, 1885.
6EsEEsL: Z have the honor to report pro-
gress in the Buresu affairs in this district.
Subsequent TO my last general report, I
haye visited many important points in the
| district, aud brought the good Intentions Of
the Bureau 10 the knowledge Of thousands
Of people, white and colored, who had here
ioioEe but vague notions of its existence and
! ooJecis. I an pleased TO report continued
Improvements in the working Of the Bu-
reaus and an earnest desire on the part Of q
majority OF the people that our agencies
shOold be extended.
have devoted myself especially % the
ores King up Of all freedmen camps, refu-
gee homos, and hospitals. I concluded 70
make clean sweepof them before the win
Ter mon'h s came upon Us, and an able at
this date 70 report decided progress IN ne
good work nov have but one camp on
nay hands, Camp Nelson, KY, still lingsrs
zoe withorawal Of transportation facilities
month.
The exodus has again commenced. and I
nope 70 report the camp closed On the Ist
prozlmo- The Nashville, Memphis. Provi-
aehee island, tlarksville, Louisville, Padu-
cab, Columbus, GaIlatin. HendersonviIIe
Murfreesboro, Pulaski, Tunnel HiU- and
Chatta8nooga camps, homes and hospitals
are all closed. The great majority Of those
who have been recipients Of the Governalsa ~
bounty have been established in good
homes IN the country. They are at work
for good wages. The exodus from crowded
cities and towns to farms has beeen large,
and trust that Christmas viii find but few
unemployed people within the limits Of my
district. IL shall not be my fault If there
are any. The freedmen are becoming daily
better advised touching their new relations,
rights and privileges, and recognise the i'm !
portanee Of industry, economy and the &C |
qulrement Of virtu0us intelligence. 1t is |
my constant effort 10 cause them 20 feel in /
dependent, and not 10 depend upon the Gov |
ernmentyor bene violent associations for much i
aid Ny faith in their ability to sspaddle /
their own canoes" strengthens with nv
daily experience. Let them be accorded /
even handed justice, and they Will work out
their own salvation. The breaking up of
AL camps and homes, and the Withdrawal Of
ratlons, forces the idle 70 work OF stsrve-
county and municipal authorities are re-
quired to provide for their own poor-care |
Tor their own sick aud bury their own dead. !
In order 10 close cut my hospitals. the /
sick who were on my hands I am providing
for IN private families, paying the expenses
therefor in cash, as / desired 10 close every
door through which cities and counties were
thrusting their poor and sick upon the char
tiles Of the Government.
/ reported on September % that nine
hFI ftranI md q
were subsisted BY the Government within
the State Of Tennessee. 7 have the honor
10 report that during the month the entire
number have been disposed Of. aud at this
date not one ration is issued By the Freed
mems Bureau in Tennessee
There were at the Colored Refugee Home
ct Camp Nelson, KENNEDY, on the LIST inst,
one thousand and forty-hve (l045l women,
and eleven hundred and thirty-tWo a 1871
children They can all be classed as de-
pendents, as there was nothng for them 10
do but eat, drink, sleep and g To school.
The monthly reports Of Refugees and
Freedmen called for by Circular No. 10, it
will not be possible for me 10 render in every
particular therein required.
At the date | entered upon duty as Assis-
tant Commissioner, every camp, colony,
depot, hospital and farm in the district was
in very confused and unsatisfactory condi-
ton. District and Post Commandments snd
Of Freedmen were, without
concert Of action issuing "a ions, giving at
tentiOn to sick and transporting refugees
and freedmen al l5ifum. / gave my first
and best attention 70 breakingup the camps,
reducing the number Of dependents, and
arresting the tide OF travel atths expense Of
Government
There was not freedman's farm in the
District that was not an actual burden TO the
taxpayers Ct the country, when the value
Of subs stence aud the cost Of experimenting
was properly estimated The Government
has not been successful in farming, nor the
majority Of SCENTS in charge Of freedmen's
farms in adding TO their regulations as prac-
teal agricuiturists.
have compiled the following statistics
from the best data have been able TO pre-.
cure, and trust they will be satisiaetory.-l
The report covers period Of four months,
to wit June, July, August and September.
! entered upon my duties as Assistant
Commissioner July lst 1865.
Within the limits Of my district, in the
month preceding my arrival here, she Gov
eminent issued rations 10