Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-05-17
THE FREEDMHN's BUREAU.


Interesting Report o Gems. stcedman and Fuller
We surrender much of our space to- day in order
topubsh the interesting report of Generals Steed-
man and Fullerton, the Commissioners appointed
by the President to investigate the operations of
the Freedmen's Bureau in the Southern States
To morrow We will publish with editorial remarks.
the elaine and impotent" defence of Col Whit
lesey, Chief of the Bureau in this State to the
charge of the New York Herald correspondent in
regard to the killing of the negro by the Rec
Captain I'll. James, the pious partner of Col. Whit
lesey in elevating the condition of the negro, on
their cotton plantations in Pitt County, with the
light thrown upon it by the official report of these
Generals.
The great length of the report compcls us to
omit that portion of it having reference to Vir-
ginia
WILMINGTON, N. c., May Sth, 1854,
Hon. E. a. Stanton, Sec'yQf Wo':
We have the honor to report that in obedience
to orders of April 9TH last, directing to inspect
and report upon the Freedmen's Bureau in the
military departments of Virginia, North Carolina
South Carolina. Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi
Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas, that we
have performed that duty in the departments of
Virginia and North Carolina, and submit the fol-
lowing report of our observations We thought
it proper to communicate the result of our infOr-
nation in these States before proceeding further
in the performance of the duty assigned to us.
1t has been our endeavor to ascertain, by
thorough and impartial investigation, the manner
in which the Bureau has been administered and
conducted in these departments, and to observe
the effect caused by it upon the relations between
the white and black races. In pursuing our in
vestigation we have endeavored to arrive at the
truth and we feel that we have succeeded in doing
so by thoroughly examining and conversing with
representatives of all classes of people, white and
black, we'll those duty in the military
service and in the Freedmens Bureau in said
States. We have visited all the towns and cities of
any Importance, and the headquarters of each dis
trict of the Bureau in Virginia and North Caro-
lima, ana have also taken advantage of every OPP
portunlty to converse with and obtain the opin-
ions in reference to the Bureau of citizens whom
we have met on the streets, at the hotels and
while travelling in the cars.
NORTH CAROLINA
Having completed our duties in Virginia, we
proceeded to the Department of North Carolina,
and arrived at Raleigh on the Odd of April. Here
we saw the assistant Commissioner of the Bureau
for said State, Colonel E. Whttlesey and obtained
from him the following information as to the num-
Der of military officers and civilians employed,
and the number of freedmen to whom ratons have
been issued since the first of December last in said
State.
Commissioned officers in the military service
One Colonel, one Lieutenant Colonel two Majors,
seventeen Captains, six First Lieutenants, eight
Second Lieutenants, one Chaplain.
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.
contract Surgeons at per month 500 90
70 hospital attendants at an average pay each per
~ civilian employees clerks, agents, &c., At M
erage pay per month of II q
laborers at an average pay per month of. IL 80
In addition to the foregoing enlisted men are detailed
as oEGeres, guards &c. by commanding officers of the
different military posts where officers of the Bureau are
serving. '-.-.
Rations have been issued as follows =
Men. Women. Children, Total
december 5lS 2, 465 1919 6,662
January. $50 2567 3712 6831
February. .......3 69 2,27O 1867 146
March .32l 2,205 S,406 b952
The same reasons that exist for issuing ratons the
freedmen of Virginia, and the necessity for the connu
OF this refef apply to freedmen of North Carolina