New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-31
Gen. Whittlesey's Reply to Gems
be- Steadman and Fullerton.
A Complete Answer to All the Charges Against
the Bureau.
The Steadman Investigation Neither Thorough nor
Impartial.
A Full Exhibit Of Documents, and a Full
Statement from the officers Inculpated.
BUREAU op REFUGEES FREEDMEN AND A L.,
HDops. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONERS STATE OF n: W. I
AADS'S RALEIGH May q. 1866.

~ RALEIGH, May 81. 1866.
MsjOr.Gen O. O. HOWARD. Commissioner.
GENERAL: In compliance with your order dated MAY TO-
1865 TO report upon the heads Of seadman and Fuller
tons communication to the Secretary OF war incioseo
have the honor to present the following statements
Having heard Of the arrival Of Gems stesdman and Fuller
ton In this CITY, called the morning Of April a. at the
hotel they stopping but not finding them re-
turned to my Office About O'Clock M they came 10 ana
remained with for nearly half an hour. My books and
papers were freely offered for their inspection but they were
content with summary statistics from my monthly reports
No examination was made Of my method Of conducting the
buness OF the Bureau Of the condition OF Its finances
The HEADQUARTERS Of the Central District embracing nineteen
counties were not inspected, those OF the
Raleigh embracing Wade and three other counties as the FOL-
lowing statements Of officers in charge shows;
RALEIoH N c. May "A, lef6.
H., p,,o GIN T. WBIrrIEsEY Asst. C0mr, Bureau a. A.
H. State Of NORTH Carolina. r, A.. a..
SIR In the report OF Gems Seadman and Fullerton TO the
Secretary OF War the following statements appear
list 1t has been endeayor to ascertain y
and impartial investigation the manner 10 when sno
we have visited all the and cities OF any import
ancs and he Aeadqnar0 Of each Dar Of the Bureau !" wv
a. The time Of the visit of these officials gems steadman
and Fueron to this State on Their tour o. ns ant9. Dis
tct rising 10 counties with nv headquarters AZ sesu
No examination By them the business or record, my
oss ras ad No in,srvr them aad myself took place
SiA reference any inquiry as 10 The situation q
affairs "as , os a Of tse time since the Bureau was
n in operation in this State and probably had good
nv becn conducted almost the commencement as any
person could have Ny office was IN the SANE
o o % ,Ssy were but few before for that Of Brey Brig
Cen sews Acting VINO Gia r
district aud expressed bmsef well satisfied with the eohd0o
OF affairs. - -. A. g.. AZ ,nrroso q, q.
o,a,ine business divided into eight sub districts with
commissioned officer in charge OF each eH one sAS soJa
as been able to learn, ras called sPoH ey ueN
and Fullerton for any Information 9Th regard sitAer 70 ne bust
ness Of As Office or The condition q ne y'sed~s" AIS a'"
Very respectfully, your obedient servant 60 ~ .,x
Can't and c. s. " supt. Cent. Dist. n. G.
Official copy Asa BIRD GARDsEg, Lieut.. aud Adlt nh
Rsst v r. T. and A. A. A. Gen; c...,....,o,
RALEIGH. N. c., May "A: Is66
Brssa Brig Gen T. wHrrrIEsEY. asst Com STATE q " C.
GENERAL due regard for my dsitinn %Ss sS
have tho honor bold In private hfe mpes me 10 orng 70
your notice some facts 10 which the Report Oh tens
Al the time they came to Raleigh W." on duty a, Assist
Ant charge Of the Of Raleigh
the city Of Raleigh and the I popuous counties
OF Wake Hsmeti. Chatham and Moore.
was Ia the discharge OF those duties OF the time and 10
hang understood that an inspection party in town fully
anticipated investigation into the operations oil the Bu
Neither Of the Inspecting Generals however approached
me or sent for me although they visited your office
should have rejoced at thorough inspection Of the re-
corded evidence and proceedings such invited few days
from the War Department who expressed
bmself as highly eratifed" with the in which its
In the report they were pleased mention approvngy by
name Brevet Col G. Cey Superintendent ofthe Western
"a 10 the reverse 10 reference this
therefore pave the honor earnestly to protest against any
c :asS ss to sSs opsI.oa, se BaIss.
subDsIct or that would S9pysy the Islss .nas inpsr
tisty or il, duties adiclou.y and honestly administered
Very respectfully your obedent servant,
ASA BIRD GARDNER First Lieut.. and ADJ
Eth Regiment V. X. c.. and Judge Adv NIL Com
Official; ASA BIRD GARDNER First 1t. and Adjt 7th Reg
ment Y. r. c., and A. A. A. Gen.
The fret topic discussed BY the Commission Is follows
yelling TOWARD THE BUREAU.
ssSy stated :. prevsns Virgins except there sppesrs
s' nS sss 81 the Bs %
the misconduct many Of officers Of tho
wS.9 %hA BRING them sI@.d With
official positions into competition with the citizens who
X 4 rue Sni that there is an almost universal desire
to have the Bureau removed on TIE part OF Az clauses s
be induced express such desire though many in different
parts OF the state were % upon tns D
correctly stated in the above paragraph have not seen
nation Of nneasness on competition officers Of
the with citizens who are employing freedmen
have conycred with prominent on this subject aud In
stead OF Directing they have without exception highly ap
proved the course OF those who we're willing to use their
alike The great Of the class capital Of the
other well paid employment Tho former could not cultivate
his land without means to pay for stock and labor The
freedmen would not aud could into la
Dor without reasonable assurance OF fair wages The
Of last year prospect gloomy seemed to many
that large part q the productive land THs' lie waste and
Whatever the motive may have BEEN the effect Of investing
few thousand dollars at such time was good u encouraged
prise Il inspired Southern men with confidence in free Ia
boz which they nst9Isy had su @ sS av
than excite hostility toward the Bureau; nall
fore ens Steadnan and discovered m from
Other causes chiefly from political not business interests
National Government with matters that belong to the State
The people the white race very naturally desire TO manage
their a, Ss1 or%y did, So long the Bureau
will exercise restraint In this respect hence arises oppo
siton 10 IT, and very natural desire to have II removed
The Commissioners proceed to report upon the
CONDUCT or THE AGENTS.
We have some Of the charges made against agent.
@s s the Assistant s. coi %Sis:sy to
IN s %s With IN
e. o h. Directly pa'; S 81
q any 19ds w. The He
which he stated that, 10 order ss.i', the planters hiring freedmen
aS @ons ' and Indirectly S'
On rsSs,Ds @ mote We
asssi 70 which replied IN co%%anissisn also hereto appended
FIs.d@sns Bureau and with Mr. %ahro T.pPn
S:s: ts
q plantation in Wayne County r. with Mr. Potter and that
M Brooks in the cultivation Of plantation In Pitt County North
{ arolina
Seadman my upon the subject presented omitted
The question quoted addressed to not uttered IN
ounce Ahs me- In writing three days afterward and
answered. In writing As nearly can recoect he CON
yersaton in NV ONCE this subject was as icllowsi zen
Steadman asked Are any officers cptiyaos farms .a
rectlv NV furnishing money After some remarks ABOUT
CHARGES that been made Though II wa not staea ey
hn,n bs said 1--WE want know II officers or agents
ncepnrd In any way directly Indirectly lreped:
n YOU wish It, General will put my answer IN writing
teys There were present Breve Brig Gen Fullerton who
minutes had been prepared Tor him from my
az B9eye Major Thos +. Johnston, A. q NJ, Lieut. +.
n Heecber. Sd Z. s. Infantry and A A. A g.. one MI