American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-06-20
Communications.


cial," and furnish you occasional item.
from the gardens of the South"
In order to make my future letters IN
telligiblc, will have to give, in this, a
description Of the status of affairs here al
the first Of the year.
Yoy will remember that General Sher.
man, in January, 1865, set apart, 'sFor
the settlement Of the negroes now made
free by the acts of war, &C., the islands
from Charleston south, and the abandoned
rice fields along the rivers for thirty miles
back from the sea-"
Under this order each head of a family
was TO have plot of land not more than
forty acres, for which he was to receive a
Possessory Title, in writing, from an off
Ger or agent appointed for that purpose.
Major General Sexton was appointed In
spector of Settlements, and afterwards
Assistant Commissioners of the Bureau u
of Refugees and Freedmen, and took pos
session of all the abandoned lands along
the coast, which he held for the benefit
of the Freedmen. Titles we're issued to
all whO applied for them, and the negroes
soon came to regard the Sea Islands as
their inalienable property, whether they
held titles or not, and during last winter
came to the conclusion that it would be
their safest plau not to ALLOW white per-
sons to come on the Islands at all. They
held meetings and passed resolutions to
that effect, and then organized themselves
Into regular police force, appointed cap
tains, and other officers, and made com
plete arrangements on Edisto, Wadmc
law, John, and james Islands.
A number of planters having had their
lands restored, undertook, at differe MT
times, about the first of the present year,
to make an inspection of their plantations.
In nearly every case they were arrested
as soon as they landed, and by their for
fer slaves, soundly berated; told that they
were nothing but.worthless Rebels any
how, and that they had no use for them
on the island. In several instances they
were imprisoned for day or two, and it
is reported, that in one instance they tied
tho former "master" to tree and admin
istered forty lashes.
A circumstance took place in February,
few days before the arrival Of your cor.
respondent, which was rather amusing to
all except the victims. A party of gen.
tlemen from Harrisburg, who at home,
meekly bore the title of "Copperhead, !"
visited Johns Island in company with one
or two ex-rebel officers, for the purpose
of leasing lands, hiring negro labor cheap
ly aud raising cotton. The negroes knew
the rebels, and Judging the others by the
company they kept, arrested the whole
party the moment they landed, disarmed
and marched them in the midst of hoot.
ing, yelling crowd, fifteen miles across
the island, along roads ankle deep in sand,
enlivening the journey for the unwilling
pedestrians by such cheerful cries as shoot
EN-" "knock dem down." chang dem" ;"
"whip en-" &c. The steamers having
followed around the island, the darkeys
finally returned their arms and allowed
them to re embark.
This was the condition Of affairs at the
LIST Of February, when an officer Of the
V. r. Corps was placed in charge
of the islands, and another officer of the
same Corps assigned to him as an assist.
ant, with instructions to restore order and
quiet, suppress lawlessness, and get the
Freedmen to 60 to work Systematically
either for themselves or under contract
with the former owners of the land. This
was herculcan task, but the two off ,ers
labored unremittingly, and by the end O
February had the people all vigorously al
work, and, what was still better, had 90
them to understand that the land wal
not theirs, and in order to work it, the,
must make some arr lngements with th'
owners. They were, however, directed
to 60 on and prepare the ground for crop
until the owners should take possession
when they would be paid fair wages 70
} all work done, provided they could no
: make bargain with the proprietor, who
before he could be placed in possession
was required to offer the Freedmen fai
: and equitable contract, approved By on
J of the officers of the Bureau. Those VIII
held possessory titles were, of course, no
t to be interfered with.
At the first of March the white citizen
could safely come on the islands, an
8 during the month, contracts were mad
! on about one half the plantations on th
r islands, but at first the negroes woul
S contract with none but northern mer
q refusing. positively, to work for ';rebel
E on any terms
A. /. cxenaral rr.ia fba CON tra ots xrexrs1 Z