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A REPORT

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ON TIIK

CONDITION

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PRESENTED TO

THE WESTERN SANITARY COMMISSION.

December lTth, 1863,

By JAMES E. YEATMAN

President of the Commission.

SAINT LOUIS: WESTERN SANITARY COMMISSION ROO^ No. 10 North Fifth Street. 1864.

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REPORT

St. Louis, December 17th, 18C5.

To the Western Sanitary Commission :

It having been decided that this Commission would engage in the work of procuring and sending relief to the suffering freed people of the lower Mississippi Valley, in their transition slate from slavery to freedom, and in educating and preparing them for their future duties and responsibilities as a free laboring people, I have, in obedience to your instructions, visited the various camps in which they are gathered, from Cairo to Natchez, and examined carefully into their actual condition, endeavoring to ascertain as far as possible the number of those who are unemployed, and who are now, or are likely to become in future, a charge upon the Government, or upon private charity; to ascertain their wants, and how they can be relieved ; and to make such recommendations, and suggestions for their manage- ment and improvement, as will bring them, as speedily as possible, to the enjoyment of the blessings which the President's Proclamation of Freedom was designed to confer upon them.

MEMPHIS AND VICINITY.

On the downward trip I first visited the colored troops, and the camp? of freed- people at Memphis and its vicinity. My first business was to call on Captain Cole, who had been put in command of the various camps of freedmen, by the Com- mandant of the Post, he being absent on duty. I then called on Major Sargent, of one of the colored regiments (a kind of Invalid Corps), which is now being raised by Colonel (late Chaplain) Eaton, the able and efficient Superintendent of Freed- men in the Department of the Tennessee, who was appointed by General Grant ir the early part of the war, and retains his superintendency to the present time. From Major Sargent, who represents Colonel Eaton at Memphis, and who appears to be warmly enlisted in his work, I obtained such general information as he had it in his power to give.

The colored troops at this place, especially the heavy artillery, are a fine body of men, of soldierly appearance, mostly employed in garrisoning Fort Pickering.

CAMP HOLLY SPRING.

There are three camps of freedmen near Memphis. The one first visited wai Camp Holly Spring, sometimes known as Camp Fiske, situated about two and a half miles below Memphis, on a high bluff, overlooking the river. The location u a most excellent one, dry and airy, and easily drained. The encampment consist* of four rows of good log huts, two rows on either side of a parallelogram, with email

plots for gardens in front. The streets and alleys were all clean and well swept, having good drainage and excellent police arrangements. The inside of the cabins was cleanly, and an air of comparative comfort prevailed. The inmates were generally well clothed, and were cheerful and contented. This was one of the earliest camps formed, and its convenient and easy access to the city has caused it to he more bountifully supplied with clothing and other necessaries than the camp on President's Island. Captain Hay, of Seventh Tennessee Infantry, is in charge.

A full corps of teachers has been sent to this camp, at the head of which is Mr. Stephens, Missionary, assisted by his brother, Miss Fannie Kiddo, Miss Henry, Miss Johnson, and Mrs. Stephens. They had been engaged in their work com- paratively but a short time, and spoke of being much encouraged by the interest manifested on the part of their scholars. About one hundred and sixty were formed into classes, and others would soon be organized in like manner. They have a large school house partly finished. It is roofed and sided with clapboards, but needs flooring and windows before it can be used. It will require four large box stoves for heating, which should be sent immediately. I Avas told on Presi- dent's Island, where there is a saw mill, that they are preparing to furnish the lumber for the flooring. All that this entire encampment will require are the stoves, with necessary stove pipe, four black boards, slates, pencils, books, pens, ink, and writing books.

In this camp there are 93 men, who are in the service as an Invalid Corps ; 41, mostly old and infirm, 300 women, 317 children — 751 in all. These are furnished with rations by Government.

The men in the service receive $10 per month, clothe themselves and families. The rest [are dependent upon the charities of the benevolent, until they can be employed.

One of the first teachers, Mrs. Porter, told me a few days since of a remarkable instance of the faith of these people in a better future. When she first went to Camp Holly Spring to teach, an old negro came out to meet her, whose head had been whitened by the frosts of ninety winters, and who was almost blind, sup- porting himself by his staff. With his hand stretched forth he accosted her, saying, " Well, you have come at last, I'se been 'spectin you, lookin for you, for de last twenty years. I knowed you would come, and now I rejoice." She said, "I have come to teach you." " Yes, yes, I know it, and I thank de Lord."

la this same Camp, as I passed through it, about dusk, I saw a colored man who, after his return from his work, was seated in his cabin, surrounded by his own children and a few others from the adjoining cabins, teaching them their lessons for the morrow.

PRESIDENT'S ISLAND.

Camp President's Island was next visited, which is on a large island of that name in the Mississippi river, half a mile distant from Camp Holly Spring. Mr. A. J. Thompson is in charge of the encampment. The location of this Camp is near the head of the island on the Tennessee side. I fear it has not been judiciously selected, being liable to be inundated, and neeessarily damp and unhealthy. The motives which impelled its choice, I believe, were that it would not be liable to inter, ruption from rebel raids, and its convenience to fuel and water ; and the difficulty of access would be such that the colored people could be kept in camp and not be able to go so easily into the city. The authorities are now compelled to place

guards at the crossing, and they would only have to add a few additional ones if the Camp were on the high grounds adjoining Camp Holly Spring. An additional reason for placing the camp on the island was the convenience of the hands engaged in chopping wood ; but a small ferry-boat, propelled by oars, could readily trans- port all from the main land to and from their work. I hope to sec the camp removed to the main land.

A large number of wooden cabins have already been erected on the island, in double rows for several hundred yards in length, with a wide open space between. The cabins are rather small and without proper ventilation and light. The larger portion of the women and children, while not entirely destitute, are in want of clothing — especially blankets and shoes, and warm linseys for underclothing and dresses. None but coarse heavy' shoes and clothing should be sent. Chaplain Kingsbury, of one of the Illinois regiments, is on duty at the Camp. He is deeply interested in this work, and his wife aids in the distribution of supplies. They were entirely out of everything in the way of women's and children's clothing, having only one skirt and two old dresses, one old boot and two old shoes, a large stock of men's summer vests and some men's summer pants. Clothing, shoes and blankets for about one thonsand persons will be required on this island. I requested that at least twenty cases of women's and children's shoes should be sent at once for the most needy, which has since been done by our Commission.

The rations furnished by Government consists mostly of hard crackers and salt or fresh beef. But little meal and bacon be!ng furnished. Every man, woman and child, when asked which they preferred, with one solitary exception, answered , " corn bread and bacon." This is the food which they have -been accustomed to all their lives, and on it they thrive and have good health. As it is a cheaper ration I would recommend and urge its adoption for the colored people generally. Small portable mills could be furnished to each large encampment. Corn can generally be procured in the neighborhood and ; if not, it can lie shipp-ed, and fresh meal ground as wanted. This is preferable to shipping the meal, as it is liable to heat and becomes musty in a short time.

Miss Mary Kingsbury, daughter of Chaplain Kingsbury, has been a volunteer teacher for some time. Miss Josephine Henshawr, sent by the Freedmen's Aid Society of Cincinnati, besides teaching, has the department of music directly under her care. I attended the exercises and witnessed, with great satisfaction, the pro- gress made by the pupils.

An additional corps of teachers had recently been sent to this island by the Presbytery of the United Presbyterians of Mansfield, Ohio, under charge of Rev. G. W. Torrence, Missionaiy ; J. R. Pinney, teacher, assisted by Miss Jennie L. Buck and Miss Bell Rose Heysuth. The school has just been commenced, with about two hundred and fifty pupils, aged from five to twenty. I here met one old woman, aged eighty-five, who was intent on her books. When asked if she was not too old to begin to learn, she said, " No," that she must learn now or not at all, as she had but little time left, and she must make the most of it. When asked what good it would do her, she said she could read the bible and teach the young.

A large log school house was being enlarged, which was found too small to accom- modate the growing school. Here, as at Camp Holly Spring, the children were most anxious to learn, and flocked joyously to school at the sound of the bell. The number in Camp President's Island November, 18th, was 448 men, 558 women, 534

children — 1,540 in all. Of these there were sick 71 men, 146 women, 114 children — 331 in all. Some of these are in the Invalid Corps, the exact number could not be furnished.

CAMP SHILOH.

This Camp contains about six hundred. It is mostly, if not entirely, self-support- ing, and will need no aid. The men belong to the Engineer Corps, and support themselves and families with the aid of such washing and other work as the women can procure from the soldiers in Fort Pickering, which it joins on the south. Like Camp Holly Spring, it is located on the bluffs, overlooking the river. Miss Chiles and Miss Johnson are teache-s in this Camp. They were both sick in hospital when I visited there. Miss Eliza Mitchell, of Oberlin,. Ohio, was also in the hospital. She acts as a Sanitary Agent for all the freedmen's camps around Memphis.

THE FREEDMEN'S HOSPITAL.

Not far from Camp Shiloh is situated the Freedmen's Hospital, a large two story, double brick building. This hospital was too much crowded, but in fair condition. There were three large double hospital tents outside, which contained about ninety patients. The Freedmen's Small Pox Hospital Avas distant about a quarter of a mile. It was too late to visit it. I was informed that it contained about forty patients.

Within the City of Memphis, not directly connected with any of the camps or with the colored Regiments, there are some three thousand freed men and women, mostly freed men, who are employed in various ways and at various rates of com- pensation. Those employed by Government receive but $10 per month, while many could readily earn from $30 to $50 per month. Those thus employed are outside of the military organization.

To give an instance : One Quartermaster told me that he had in his employment a harness maker, to whom they could only pay $10 per month, while they were paving white men doing the same work $45 per month; and that the colored man could readily procure the same wages were he allowed to seek a market for his labor in the same town. I saw a number of colored men pressed into service (not mili- tary), to labor at the rate of $10 per month, one of whom petitioned to be released ns he had a good situation at $30 per month. The firemen on the steamboat on which I was a passenger from St. Louis to Memphis were all colored, and were receiving $45 per month. These men were afraid to go ashore at Memphis, for fear of being picked up and forced into Government employment at less than one-fourth their existing wages. Besides the fact that men are thus pressed into serviee, thou- sands have been employed for weeks and months who have never received anything but promises to pay. This negligence and failure to comply with obligations have greatly disheartened the poor slave, who comes forth at the call of the President, and supposes himself a free man, and that by leaving his rebel master he is inflict- ing a blow on the enemy, ceasing to labor and to provide food for him and for the armies of the rebellion. Thus he was promised freedom, but how is it with him? He is seized in the street and ordered to go and help unload a steamboat, for which he will be paid, or sent to work in the trenches, or to labor for some Quartermaster, or to chop wood for the Government. He labors for months, and at last is only paid with promises, unless perchance it may be with kicks, cuffs, and curses. Under

such treatment feels that he he has exchanged one master for many masters ; these continued abases sadden and depress him, and he sighs to return to his former homo and master. He, at least, fed, clothed and sheltered him. Something should be done, and I doubt not will be done, to correct these terrible abuses tvhen the proper author- ities are made to comprehend them. The President's proclamation should not thus be made a living lie, as the Declaration of Independence has too long been, in assert ing the inalienable rights of man, while the nation continued to hold millions o i human beings in bondage.

HELENA, ARKANSAS.

The next point in descending the river is Helena, where there is quite a large number of freedmen, who are in great part supported by Government. My stay was short in going down, and I intended stopping and spending a day on my return Chaplain J. R. Locke, now Captain of a Company in Colonel Eaton's Regiment, is in charge of and acting as Superintendent ot freedmen at this place. He had only taken charge within a few days, and as no thorough organization existed here I can only give general information. There are at Helena 774 freed people, Avho support themselves ; there are 1454 who draw rations from the Government, and who are destitute of clothing. They are needing a general assortment for women and chil- dren, and some for old and decrepid persons. The whole number of freed people at Helena is 2,228. The small pox is prevalent here. Mr. Roberts and Mrs. Baldwin are engaged in teaching the freed people, and have a class of 109 scholars. Two other good female teachers are wanted. There are quite a number of wood-yards established at points above and below Helena, Avhere freedmen are employed in cutting, hauling, and cording wood on the banks of the river, for which they receive fifty cents per cord and rations, or seventy-five cents per cord, they supplying their own rations. These yards are established either by Government agents, or by civil- ians, who employ freed men to chop, and pay them wages. I was unable to ascer- tain an approximate estimate of the numbers thus employed.

MOUTH OE WHITE RIVER.

At the mouth ot White River there is a camp of some three hnndred and fifty, who are in a very destitute condition. There is no organization whatever, and the number is likely to increase rapidly at this point.

SKIPWITH'S LANDING.

At Skipwith's Landing there is a camp forming, but I did not learn of it until we had passed this point.

GOODRICH'S LANDING.

This place is the Head Quarters of the North-east Department of Louisiana, under command of Brigadier General Hawkins, who has in his command six regiments of colored troops, all well officered and thoroughly drilled. One of these regiments is now at Millikin's Bend, and two are at Vicksburg engaged in working on the fortifications. He is justly proud of his troops, and has every confidence in them as soldiers. Both he and his officers expressed a perfect willingness to meet an

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equal, if not a larger number of rebel soldiers in the open field. He was just com- pleting new barracks for his entire command. They are decidedly the best which I have seen anywhere — so constructed as to compel a proper ventilation, no matter how much disposed the soldier may be to prevent it. The soldiers all have good bunks, kitchens with proper appliances for cooking, company cooks, &c. The regiments have their regimental hospitals, and they are fully equal to any regimen. tal hospitals that I have seen. Regiments officered by men who take so deep an interest in the duties devolving upon them cannot fail to do well.

MILLIKIN'S BEND.

At Millikin's Bend, Col. Ballinger, commanding the Third Mississippi (colored) is located. He is inside of fortifications with his command, and is constructing sim- ilar barracks to those at Goodrich's Landing, by direction of General Hawkins. This regiment did not appear so highly disciplined as others which I have seen. From both points the commanding officers send out scouting parties almost daily. Colored troops are a terror to the rebels who have held them in bondage for so many years, and who fear a retributive justice ; but the negroes appear to possess no bitter or vindictive feelings, and no act of cruelty or anything approaching to barbarity has been committed by them. They go in search of and take rebel prisoners with a hearty good will.

In going from Goodrich's Landing to Millikin's Bend I was escorted by twenty colored troops, mounted on mules captured from the enemy. They rode gallantly and fearlessly, putting out their advance guard and arranging themselves in true military order, conducting themselves with as much propriety as an equal number of well behaved gentlemen. When we arrived at the Bend and dashed into the fort surrounded by troops, my companion, Dr. May, and myself, dressed in citizen's clothes and mounted in an old wagon, were taken for prisoners, and their escort was called out to by the soldiers, "Rebs! Rebs!" and an amount of ivory dis- played that I have seldom seen exceeded.

I could but compare my first visit to this point years ago, when I landed to take charge of a large estate as executor, with my present one. It was here in these swamps that I first saw and knew what a dead, leaden thing slavery is, and the wrong and injustice which could be inflicted even by one considered the kindest and most humane of masters. I doubt not the seed was then sown in my heart which has since germinated, and makes me now not only willing, but anxious to labor for these poor sons of toil. What a revolution a few short years has brought about ! Who can doubt that an infinitely wise and just God governs the world ?

The rations of all the troops and freedmen within the division of General Hawkins are principally corn meal and pork, (occasionally fresh beef and flour), coffee, sugar, beans and hominy. There was but little sickness in his command.

INFIRMARY FARMS.

Goodrich's Landing is the Headquarters of the Commissioners for the leasing of abandoned plantations ; those so leased being in this locality.

Besides the abandoned plantations already leased, there are a number of planta- tions on which freedmen have been placed, mostly the old and infirm and young negroes. These are known as "Infirmary farms." Some of them are partially worked, others are not ; but on all rations are furnished by the Government. At

Goodrich's Landing there are Wives of soldiers of the Tenth Louisiana Regiment, 234 ; children, 434 ; wives and children in other regiments, 400— total, 1,068.

At the Savage Infirmary Place, one and a half miles below Goodrich's Landing, there are, old men and women, 74 ; children, 38— total, 112. Of those who are connected with wood chopping, there are, adults, 136 ; children, 32 — total, 168.

At the Mallis Infirmary Place there are, men and women, old and infirm, 28 ; children, 14.

At the Goodrich Infirmary Place there are, men and women, 148, mostly aged J children, 147— total, 295.

At the Wynne Infirmary Place there are, adults, 82, supporting themselves by contracts for clearing land ; very old persons, 9 — total, 91.

At the Blackburn Infirmary Place there are, men and women, 50, mostly women; children 7 — total, 57.

At the Stone, Hardison and Currie Infirmary Places there are, adults, 178; children, 47, fifteen who maintain themselves — total, 240.

At the Beard Place, three miles below Goodrich's Landing, there are, adults, 36 ; children, 7 — total, 43.

At the Front Railey Infirmary Place there are, adults, 121 ; children, 78— total, 199.

At the Davis Place there are, women, 250 ; old men, 20 ; children, 90— total, 360, all very destitute.

At the Richardson Infirmary Place there are, mostly aged aud infirm, 300. The whole number to whom rations are furnished is 2775. The larger number cf these places were personally visited by me. The majority of the freed people in them are infirm men, and women and children. They are generally destitute, and need good, stout women's clothing, shoes and blankets.

Dr. Littlefield, who is the Physician of the Infirmary Farms, is located at the Savage Place, where he has established a Freedmen's Hospital. He appears to take a very deep interest in this people, and is desirous to aid in improving their condi- tion. He reports he has to furnish medicines and attendance to many of those on the leased plantations, especially to those on the places leased by one man who had leased five plantations, whose negroes are greatly neglected and poorly provided for. The tertimony of quite a number of persons fully corroborated this statement. One of the freedmen, Henson Jackson, working at Wilton's Plantation, said that they get corn wherever they can find it on abandoned plantations ; that they frequently have to go as far as Tensas Bayou, that he has been without bread for days, that four pounds of meat per week is all that is allowed him, that he pays for his flour, and has worked since April without receiving any pay or clothing whatever, that he only receives tickets for actual days work, to be paid when the crop is sold. Others from the same farm testified to the same thing, and laborers from other plantations gave similar testimony. None received molasses, rice or beans, and hominy only when they choose to make it themselves.

The poor negroes are everywhere greatly depressed at their condition. They all testify that if they were only paid their little wages as they earn them, so that they could purchase clothing, and were furnished with the provisions promised they could stand it ; but to work and get poorly paid, poorly fed, and not doctored when siek, is more than they can endure. Among the thousands whom I questioned none showed the least unwillingness to work. If they could only be paid fair wages they would be contented and happy. They do not realize that they are free

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men. They say that they are told they are, but then they are taken and hired out to men who treat them, so far as providing for them is concerned, far worse than their " seeesh" masters did. Besides this they feel that their pay or hire is lower now than it was when " the seeesh" used to hire them. This is true. A good negro man would hire for from $200 to $240 per annum, and a woman for from $150 to $180 per annum, and be fed and clothed besides, and that too when cotton wasonly worth 10 cents a pound. Now it is worth 70 cents. Why should not the freed man now get at least as much for his labor as the slave owner did for it when he was a slave. The planter who formerly hired a negro slave obtained from $450 to $500 as the result of his labor; now he will obtain at least $2,500, while the laborer, if he should obtain his entire year's wages will only receives $82 ; $2 per head being deducted to pay his medical attendance, which is never given. But the poor freedman fares even worse than- this* He does not get his $7 per month, or $84 per annum, less $2 for medical attendance. He only gets paid at that rate for the actual number of days which he may work, that is 27c per day, so that if the planter furnishes but ten days labor in the month, the laborer receives but $2 70 for his month's labor. Was there ever a greater iniquity than this ? I am confident that it is only necessary for this Commission to present these facts at Washington to have them corrected.

The parties leasing plantations and employing these negroes do it from no motives either of loyalty or humanity. The desire of gain alone prompts them, and they care litt e whether they make it out of the blood of those they empl oy or from the soil. There are of course exceptions ; but I am informed that the majority of the lessees were only adventurers, camp followers, "army sharks," as they are, termed, who have turned aside from what they consider their legitimate prey, the poor soldier, to gather the riches of the land which his prowess has laid open to them. I feel that the fathers and brothers and friends of these brave men should have an oppor- tunity to reap, under a more equitable system for the laborer, the reward of the months of toil and exposure it has cost to open this country to the institutions of freedom and compensated labor. If these plantations Avere required to be subdivided into parcels or tracts to suit the views and means of our Western men, say in farms of from one to two hundred acres, thousands would soon flock to the Souih to lease them, especially when it is known that one acre of ground there cultivated in cotton would yield, in dollars, ten times as much as at home. Besides, this subdivision would attract a loyal population, who would protect the country against any guerrilla bands that might infest it.

General Hawkins, who has been for several months in command of troops in this region, a man of sound judgmeut, has given much thought to this subject, and he fully convinced me that the true interest of our country, and justice to our loyal people, who have given their sons to the crushing out of this rebellion, require that they should have the opportunity to share in the fruits of their victories.

I would not propose to have any loyal man deprived of his possessions, or any man who has not abandoned his lands, and who will return to his allegiance ; but I would only lease the lands of those who have abandoned them, and who have fled with the enemy, or nre fighting in their armies. The lands of such should not be restored during the continuance of the lease, even if an amnesty should be granted.

Besides settling the country with loyal people and those who would protect it, this system would be more humane to the freedman, for, besides being called

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to labor for the men who sympathized with him and for the Government, which gave him his freedom, he would be aided in his struggles in the new positition to which he has been so suddenly called Besides this, a small fanner would take better care of a few hands morally, physically and mentally than one who had a hundred or more to look after.

Lessees are now allowed to lease as many plantations as their cupidity may lead them to grasp. I was informed that two parties had each leased four plantations and another five. No one party should be permitted to lease over one. Lessees of more than one plantation are unable to give their personal supervision and so employ the old overseers whom the former masters had employed. Whether these men can ever be brought to regard as freemen those whom they had always known and treated as slaves is very doubtful. Besides, would a man of any humanity be likely to employ these men, who have hunted the slave with blood hounds, and driven him to his work with fhc lash ?

I was informed by one lessee that parties are trying to form a combination by which a few men would monoplize many plantations. This should not be permitted. It is very important to the welfare of the freedmen to have the plantations in as many different hands as possible. If there are benefits to be derived from the leasing of these lands, let them be diffused among the soldiers' relatives and friends and the friends of the freedmen as much as possible.

One of the provisions of the present lease system is that articles of cloth- ing, &c., should be furnished by the lessee to those in his employ at cost. From the testimony of a number of persons, most of the lessees have failed to provide such articles, until recently, and then only at exorbitant prices. I saw shoes which could be purchased in St. Louis at $1 a pair sold at $2 50, and calicoes which would cost 20c to 24c sold at 75c per yard. Such extortion should be prevented by severe penalties.

The following estimate will show what might reasonably be expected from the cultivation of one hundred acres of land in Louisiana or Mississippi planted in cotton :

The product of a farm of one hundred acres, three-fourths in cotton and one- fourth in corn, Avould (at less than present prices) be as follows, estimating one bale of 400 lbs. to the acre and 40 bushels of corn to the acre, and paying the laborers $25 per month.

ESTIMATE.

75 bales of cotton— 30,000 lbs.— at 50c $15,000 00

1000 bushels of corn, at 75c 750 00

$15,750 00

OUTLAYS TO BE DEDUCTED.

8 hands for one year, at $25 per month $2,400 00

6 mules, at $125 each 750 00

1 wagon and harness 200 00

Plows and harrows 100 00

Other farming utensils , 100 00

Forage for 6 mules, 80c per day, for 8 months 1,152 00

Bagging? rope and twine for 75 bales 150 0U

Tax of $4 per bale for Government 300 00

Tax on 1000 bushels of corn, at 5 cents 50 00 —$5,202 00

Nett profits $10,548 00

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The freedmen should be allowed to become lessees of as much land as they can show their ability to stock and take care of. Gen. Thomas, in his report of the 15th of October, shows that there were fifteen colored lessees, who had made from four up to one hundred and fifty bales of cotton. I visited quite a number of freed men who were engaged in planting cotton on their own account.

Granville Green (colored), on the Beard place, works a number of hands, and is supplied by Government with rations, to be paid for when the crop is sold. I was informed that he would make from ten to twelve bales of cotton.

Tom Taylor Ccolored) was working seven hands on the Savage place, the Gov- ernment furnishing rations until the crop is sold.

Luke Johnson (colored), on the Albert Richardson place, will make five bales of cotton, and corn sufficient for his family and stock, and has sold three hundred dol- lars' worth of vegetables. He has paid ail expenses without aid from the Govern- ment. He commenced work last May.

Bill Gibson and Phil Ford (colored) commenced work last May, and will make nine bales of cotton. They occasionally hire a woman or two, and have paid their hands in full, and found their own provisions.

Solomon Richardson (colored), on the Sam. Richardson place, will make ten bales of cotton. He has had one hand to assist him, and has a good garden and corn.

Richard Walton (colored) will make seven bales of cotton. He has only had assistance in gathering it. He has no garden, but has provided for himself, and paid for everything.

Henry Johnson (colored) will make eight bales of cotton, doing all the work himself.

Moses Wright (colored) will make five bales. He has had his wife and two women to aid him, and all have paid their own way.

Jacob Ccolored), on the Blackman place, has made seven bales of very fine cotton, the best I saw, and equal to any ever grown in this section. He had some assistance.

Jim Blue (colored), an old man, has made two bales of cotton.

George (colored), aided by two women, has made eight bales of cotton.

Milly (colored woman), whose husband was killed by the rebels, will make three bales of cotton. She had two boys to aid her in picking, at 50c per day.

Peter (colored) and his son have made two bales, and raised a crop of corn.

Ned (colored), will make two and a half bales of cotton, besides his corn.

Charles (colored) will make two bales of cotton, besides his corn.

Sancho (colored) works part of the Ballard place, I was informed he would make eighty bales of cotton. He works about twenty-seven men, women and boys. I called to see him, but he was absent.

Patrick (colored), on the Pan-on place, near Millikin's Bend, has made about twenty-seven bales of cotton. He has six or seven persons to aid him.

Bob (colored) will make nine or ten bales of cotton on the same place.

Prinee (colored) will make six or seven bales of cotton.

Prom the above one can readily see that coercion is not essential to make the negro work. The new boon of freedom had been granted, and still they steadily went forward with their work, some of them accomplishing fully as much as under the eye of a master and the lash of the overseer.

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SCHOOLS.

Schools are being organized at Goodrich's Landing. A full corps of teachers had been sent out by the Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church, in charge of Rev. T. V. Callahan, Superintendent and Missionary, with Mr. Lackey, Assistant. The names of the teachers are, Miss Agnes D. Tapasca, Miss Margaret A. Smith, Miss Lizzie M. Findley and Miss Henrietta M. Lee. They were arranging their classes and gathering scholars together. A good building used by the Quartermas- ter was being vacated for a school-room. These teachers, besides teaching the chil- dren, go to the barracks and give lessons to such of the colored soldiers as desire to learn. Here, as elsewhere, the freed men of all ages and sexes evince a great desire to learn.

Besides this school there is at Groshon's plantation a school taught by Rose Anna, a colored girl. She has between forty and fifty scholars. Uncle Jack, a colored man, at the Goodrich place, is teaching a school of eighty.nine scholars. Uncle Tom, a colored man, at the Savage plantation, has a school of thirty scholars. He is infirm, and teaches them remaining himself in bed. Wm. McCuthchen, a colored man, has commenced a school on the Currie place. He has sixty-three scholars, who are greatly in want of books. They were using books of every kind and descrip- tion, scarcely any two of them alike. Some even were using scraps of paper. One had a volume of Tennyson's poems, out of which he was learning his letters. I promised them books and slates. The teacher had but one arm, having lost the other by a cotton gin.

I visited most of the above places on my way to Milliken's Bend, at which place I found about three hundred and fifty freedmen, mostly the families of soldiers of the colored regiments stationed there. The Third Mississippi Regiment of African descent stationed here mustered in June last six hundred, since which time two hundred have died

At Omega, two miles above, about two hundred are engaged in cutting wood, at 50c per cord and rations.

VAN BUREN HOSPITAL.

This hospital is two miles below Milliken Bend ; Dr. Stephens is in charge Captain Hancock is Superintendent of Freedmen here. Tnere are at this place 55 men, Invalid Corps, 25 old and infirm men, 99 women and girls able to work, 210 aged women and children, and 30 in Hospital — in all 419 persons.

A full corps of teachers had recently arrived at this place, more than were needed. Two Avere going up to Milliken's Bend. There are at this point, Rev. A. S. Wright, Missionary and Superintendent, Miss Elvira Henry, Miss Mary Ann Stambaugh, Miss Elsey Speed, Miss Harriet Whiting, teachers, sent by the Amer- ican Missionary Association, and Mrs. Beckwith, of the Freedmen's Aid Society of Cincinnati. There will be about 250 scholars, old and young, at this place. They are in want of books, slates, black-boards, maps, and a large box stove for the school room. Women and children's clothing and blankets and shoes are much needed.

PAW PAW ISLAND.

Paw Paw Island, a few miles belcw, has about 1,550 persons in a destitute condi- tion. I was unable to visit the Island, to learn, from personal inspection, the true condition and wants of these people. The able-bodied ones are engaged in cutting wood for steamboat purposes.

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YOUNG'S POINT.

At Young's Point, D. L. Jones, of the Ninth Louisiana Regiment, African Descent, is in charge of the camp. There are now some 2,100 in this camp, in miserable huts, tents and hovels. There appears to be more squalid misery and destitution here than in any place I have visited. The sickness and deaths were most frightful. During the summer from thirty to fifty died in a day, and some days as many as seventy-five, during the latter part of June, July, and August. Most of the medicines received were from the Western and United States Sanitary Com- missions. I ordered twenty boxes of cough and diarrea mixtures sent there from Vicksburg to Mr. Elkana Beard who, with his wife and Miss Bond, were sent by the Society of Friends in Indiana to teach and distribute goods. They had only arrived a few days- before, and will do great good there.

DE SOTO AND VICINITY.

At De Soto, immediately opposite Vicksburg, there are about 275 old men, women and children, to whom the Government furnishes rations, but from some cause or other none had been received for more than two weeks preceding my visit, and great destitution and dissatisfaction existed. A few were earning a little money by wash- ing for the soldiers. They want work. Their cabins are poor. Below De Soto there is a large wood yard, carried on by Mr. Sweeney, who pays his hands promptly, and they are all well satisfied. They say that if they can only get work and get paid for it, they will be contented and happy. This was the first and only employer met with by me who had paid his laborers promptly and well. Work, and to be dealt with fairly and honestly, is all they ask. Let this be done and they will labor cheerfully and freely.

At the Barney Plantation, three miles below Vicksburg, on the Louisiana side they are forming a new camp. There is one Company of the Ninth Louisiana Colored Invalid Corps and about 800 men, women, and children, the men and women being mostly old and infirm, all of the able-bodied men and many women, having been taken into Government service. The camp was in bad condition, the cabins and hovels were poor, a few new and good quarters were being erected, and supplies of every kind were much needed.

VICKSBURG AND VICINITY.

At Vicksburg I found a number of white regiments encamped, besides some five regiments of colored troops, who were mostly engaged in working on the fortifica- tions, which are the most extensive and complete in the country. The troops here, as elsewhere, were in excellent condition. The main body of troops were on Black river, some eighteen miles distant. While at Vicksburg I had one interview with General Thomas, but owing to the presence of a large number of persons, I was unable to bring my business before him, except in a general Avay. He treated me with great kindness and cordiality. He was staying at the house of a friend, one of the Commissioners and Lessees. He told me he would return to his Head-quarters on the steamer " Rocket," where he would remain. I informed him that there were some matters of interest which I desired to communicate, and would call at his Head-quarters, which I did the next day, but the General had returned to the residence of his friend. As he was to proceed in a few days to St. Louis, where he was ordered to superintend the raising of colored troops, and

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where I knew a better opportunity would be afforded me of free communication, I did not try to see him again. The General is a noble man in appearance, with a kind, benignant face, one indicating that he has the will and the heart for the work which he has undertaken.

I called to see Chaplain, now Colonel Eaton, and found him hard at work. He devotes his every thought and all his energies to the great work which has been devolved upon him. I took as much of his time as I felt it right to ask. I should have liked one entire day without interruption, but an hour was the most that could be reasonably requested or spared, in which time he gave me only the outlines of his general plan of operations. I found that his views corresponded with my own, and with a plan which I had formed in my own mind for aiding and benefitting the freedmen, and securing to them the rewards of their labor and the enjoyment of their rights.

Mr. Henry Roundtree, agent of the Contraband Relief Society of Cincinnati and a member of the Society of Friends, is also laboring at this point in distributing supplies and rendering whatever assistance is in his power. I entrusted to him the distribution of the large amount of medicines sent down by this Commission, and he volunteered his sesvices to act as our agent. He is faithfully engaged in a good work,

PLANTATIONS OF JEFF. AND JOE. DAVIS.

About thirty miles below Vicksburg above six huudred freedmen have assembled and taken possession of the plantations of Jeff, and Jo. Davis. There are three of these plantations on a bend of the river, which a line of defenses one mile in length will thoroughly pi-otect. These plantations will be taken possession of by the Gov- ernment, and a regular camp established. The rebels have recently made an attack on the defenseless negroes, killing and wounding several, and driving the rest into the woods. A force was sent to drive them off, which it did. A gun. boat is now located there, which will afford thorough protection. These plantations should be used permanently as Infirmary Farms for the aged and infirm negroes freed by the action of their former possessors. It is but right and proper that these distinguished abolititionists, Jeff, and Joe. Davis, should be made to furnish homes to at least a few of those who have been deprived of their homes and kind masters by their action.

NATCHEZ,

At Natchez there is a large freedman's camp numbering 2,100, for whom rations are drawn. The cabins are built of good plank, but are poorly constructed, many of them without chimneys, the only escape for smoke being through a hole left where the chimney should be. They are all without proper light and ventila- .ion, and being overcrowded, are the most prolific sources of disease. The whole race appear obstinately opposed to light and air in their houses. A radical reform is required in this, which will add greatly to the health and comfort of the inmates. There is much sickness, suffering and destitution in this camp. There was not one house that I visited where death had not entered its portals. The number of deaths in families numbered from one to eleven. Seventy-five had died in a single day. I was informed that some had returned to their masters on account of their suffering.

Two or three good physicians are greatly needed here. They have one, but he is inefficient, and without sympathy in his work. The greatest want now is good physicians. If fifteen or twenty good men, whose hearts are in the work, would

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volunteer for this service — men who are not afraid of labor and not easily dis- couraged— thev could do an amount of good, which cannot be estimated. Thousands must die for want of medicines and medical attendance this winter. There are already teachers, missionaries and chaplains enough in the field ; without physicians there will soon be no scholars for the teacher to teach, or souls for the missionary to save.

This camp had numbered four thousand at one time, now it is reduced to 2, 100 — a sad tale to tell, but nevertheless true. The same, I doubt not, can be said of other camps. Whoever will ride along the levee from Milliken's Bend to Desoto as I did, and see the numerous graves along the way, for the distance of twenty- five miles, cannot doubt it. The inquiry everywhere was " Are you a Doctor V I trust that this pressing want may be speedily supplied.

At Natchez they have but few troops, although an additional force was looked for, as there were some demonstrations making which indicated an attack. There are two regiments of colored troops here under Colonel B. Farrar. The regiment which he commands will be 1,400 strong when completed. He is constructing a . large new barracks, consisting of log houses, for his men, under the hill. There are some defects of construction, which were pointed out to him. Both regiments' have been engaged in working on the fortifications, aud have been drilled but little. Colonel Farrar's regiment had only received its arms within a few days.

Colonel F. also commands the Thirtieth Missouri Volunteers, which is at Vadalia, on the opposite side of the river. It is reduced to 220 strong. I visited it, and found the men in fair condition. They have been heavily worked in scouting, &c.

While at the camp Colonel Farrar returned from a scout, which he had made to a point thirty miles distant. He took with him thirty colored troops who had never handled a musket until two days before. They returned with nine prisoners, one a rebel Lieutenant. They were much chagrined at being taken by negroes, and asked if they could not have another guard to take them through town ; but as they were captured by negroes, they had to be guarded and escorted by them. The Colonel was ordered out on another scout, and I saw him leaving with about eighty of his men as I took my departure.

VADALIA.

At Vadalia, opposite Natchez, there is a freedmen's camp, containing seventy old and decrepid men and six hundred women and children, all of whom are furnished with rations. They are in about the same condition as the camp at Natchez. Teachers are wanted at both the last named places, but I have been informed that twelve have been sent from the Northwestern Freedmen's Aid Society of Chicago, to Vicksburg, within the last week or ten days, who will be sent to points most needed, and as most of the other places are liberally supplied, I doubt not Natchez and Vadalia have been by this time.

In the town of Natchez there are three colored schools, one for the people of color originally there, taught by a colored girl by the name of McHughes. Her father, a colored man, was a clerk in one of the departments. She has twelve scholars, and charges two dollars per month for each pupil. She likewise gives lessons on the piano. School No. 2, taught by a freedwoman, has eighteen scholars ; she charges one dollar per month. School No. 3, has thirty scholars ; charges the same.

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COLUMBUS, KY.

This place was visited by me on my return up the river. The freedmen at this point are under the Superintendence of Capt. Jas. Cadwaladcr, of the 32nd Iowa. There is a colored regiment at Columbus, the 2nd Tennessee Heavy Artillery, 900 strong, Col. Adams, commanding. Two Companies of the Invalid Corps have been mostly enlisted here. There are now left in the Freedman Camps 30 old men, mostly cripples, unable to work, 550 women all in good cabins, mostly soldiers' wives, and 250 children, — total 530 persons, of which number only two hundred drew rations, The remainder either support themselves or are supported by their husbands and fathers, who are in the army. These people have been abun- dantly provided with all that is necessary. One good male teacher is wanted.

ISLAND NO. 10.

I was not able te stop at this point either descending or ascending the river, but was informed, by Capt. Cadwalader, who had just returned from a visit to it, that there are on the island two companies belonging to the Invalid Corps numbering 200 men, besides 800 men, women and children. The condition of these freed people js not so good as of those at Columbus. They are living mostly in log cabins, six feet high, and 14 by 16 feet square on an average, some of them, with and some of them without floors. There are ten persons, old and young, in each cabin, the latter being poorly ventilated. The inmates resist glass windows, contending that the door and chimney admit air and light enough. Fuel is scarce on the Island, which contains only about 120 acres of tillable land. This Camp should be removed to the Tennessee shore, which is high ground and on a large bend in the river which is nearly thirty miles around,and only four or five miles across, with Reel Foot Lake in the rear, which would afford good protection, so that the place could be easily defended. There is in this bend over 20,000 acres of cleared land, ready for the plough.

NUMBER OF FREED PEOPLE ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

The summing up of my observations and statistics gives the number of freed people gathered in Camps and towns along the Mississippi river, as about 25,000, not including the regiments of colored soldiers, which would make an addition of about 15,000 more, giving a total of 40,000.

GARDEN SEEDS.

Besides aiding these people with clothing and medicines, and sending teachers and physicians, there is one other particular in which a most important want can be met at small cost, and that is in sending them garden seeds. These should be forwarded between this and the first of February, and I trust the friends of these poor people will remember this want, and send with their other donations, packages of garden seeds.

CONCLUSION.

There are doubtless some points and camps which I may have overlooked. I endeavored to procure all the information I could, and in the progress of my inves- tigations I found that the simple work of humanity to the merely destitute, great and important as it is, is secondary to some other things ; and the injustice with which the freedmen are treated, the continuing them in a state of involuntary

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servitude, worse than that from which they have escaped, made me desirous of returning and presenting the subject to the Commission, and inducing it to do something towards getting the Government to make some alterations in the pre- sent lease system, the abuses of which are pointed out in some degree in the forego- ing report.

I have no doubt that the present system was the best that could be devised for the emergency at the time, but the experience of one season has enabled those who have examined it to see its defects, and the desire of all should be to remedy them. There is scarcely any architect, however skillful, whose plans cannot be improved upon. Our great effort should be not only to show that free labor can be made profitable to the employer, but also to the laborer, and it should not be made profitable by means of the wrongs and injustice practiced on the laborer. It is the duty of the Government to exercise a wholesome guardianship over these new-born children of freedom ; to guide, direct and protect them, at least in their infancy, and to see that injustice and inhumanity are not practiced upon them — to make them realize that they are freemen ; and to make them do this they must be treated as such and paid as such. If they are employed as soldiers, they should be paid, clothed and fed as soldiers ; if they are employed as blacksmiths and carpenters, they should be paid as such. A man worth thirty, forty, fifty or seventy-five dollars per month, should not be forced to give his labor for less, or be hired out at seven dollars per month. They should be permitted to seek their own occupation ; only let them know that they must be employed. If they select the army, they should be permitted to vol- unteer as other soldiers do. If a draft is necessary, let them be drafted. If they prefer to cultivate the soil, let them lease abandoned plantations, or such portions of them as they can show they are able to stock and manage. The same should be required, also, of the white lessees.

If the freedmen wish to contract their labor, let them do it themselves, and not be hired out against their wills, to persons for whom they are not willing to work. These people should be educated up to, and made to realize, their new condition. Their masters sold them, or hired them out, fed them and clothed them ; let them now hire themselves out, and with their wages buy their own food and clothing, and supply all their other wants If they are hired out against their wills, and fed and clothed as before, they do not realize that they are freemen. It only appears to them a change of masters, and that for the worse, for before the master's interest prompted him to feed and clothe them well, to supply a physician and medicines, and to take care of them when sick. So in devising a system for the government of these people in their present state of pupilage, such a plan should be adopted as will make them feel and see that they are treated and regarded as freemen.

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