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VIRGINIA

The Freedmen's bureau had, 58 clerks and superintendents of farms, paid average monthly wages $78.50;12 assistant superintendents, paid average monthly wages 87.00; and 163 laborers, paid average monthly wages 11.75; as personel in the state of Virginia. Other personel included orderlies and gurads. The importance of the bureau was seen in local authorities that were unwilling to help freedmen in anyway especially those freedmen who were destitute and helpless. Many freedmen were unwilling to relocate and the aid many recieved from the bureau was their lifeline. Freedmen, for the most part, did not ask bureau officials for help or assistence. There were some that took advantage of the bureau, who believed that officials had the abilty to cure all the problems.

The agents themselves, for the most part, had done there duties resposibly but there were some agents that had abused their power and position. To a large degree, bureau agents and a local authorities worked very well together. The recommendations of ______ suggested that both the bureau and the military were not nessessary and they surmised that the military should take over instead of the bureau.

NORTH CAROLINA

In North Carolina, the bereau employed; 9 contract surgeons, at per month $100 00, 26 hospital attendants, at average pay each per month 11 25, 19 civilian employés, clerks, agents, &c., at an average pay per month of 77 20, 4 laborers, at an average pay per month of 11 90, enlisted men are detailed as orderlies, guards, &c., by commanding officers of the different military posts where officers of the Bureau are serving.

Some misconduct was reported to the bureau main office that bureau agents were using their posts for personal gains. Colonel E. Whittlesey, who interregated on this matter had stated that he was not involved in nor knew of anyone involved in such activities. Also, the arbitrary powers of the bureau,making arrests, imposing fines, and inflicting punishments, disregarding the local laws and especially the statute of limitations, caused resentment toward the federal government in general. These powers invoked negative feelings in many southerners that sparked many to want the agency to leave.

The recommendation of Steedman and Fullerton echoed the conclusion they had in Virginia which was to withdraw the bureau and turn day to day responsibility over to the military.

SOUTH CAROLINA

In South Carolina, the bureau employed, Nine clerks, at average pay each per month $108 33, One rental agent, at monthly pay of 75 00, One clerk, at monthly pay of 50 00, One storekeeper, at monthly pay of 85 00, One counsellor, at monthly pay of 125 00, One superintendent of education, at monthly pay of 150 00, One printer, at monthly pay of 100 00, One contract surgeon, at monthly pay of 100 00, Twenty-five laborers, at average pay per month 19 20.

The bureau management had a systemic problem that was bad at the leadership position. General Saxton was head of the bureau operations in South Carolina and had performed his with numerous mistakes and blunders that made matters bad for those the bureau were trying to help. Saxton was described as being pernicious. He was replaced by Brigadier General R.K. Scott. Steedman and fulton described as energetic and a compotent officier. It appeared that he took great pains to turn thing around and correct the mistakes made by his predissessors. There had reports of murder of freedmen from a band of outlaws. These outlaws were though to be from other states such as texas, Kentucky and Tennessee who were apart of the rebel army. When citizens were asked why the purpotrators had not been arrested, many answered that the beureau with the support of the military had the primary authority.

In certain areas, such as the sea islands, many freedmen were in a state of of destitution. Manyhad tried to cultivate the land and begin businesses with little to no success.

GEORGIA

SAVANNAH, GA., AND THE ISLANDS. After visiting the South Carolina islands we proceeded to Savannah, Georgia, where we were joined by Brevet Major General David Tilson, assistant commissioner of the Bureau for Georgia. He accompanied us on our visit to the Sea Islands under his charge. Our first investigation was on St. Catherine's Island. There has been much confusion and disorder here, occasioned by Rev. Tunis J. Campbell, a colored man from Nova Scotia, who was located on the island by General Saxton as an agent of the Bureau. This man abolished all the simple rules and regulations adopted by the freedmen for their own guidance, and established instead a parody of the United States Government, putting himself in the position of President, and assuming in addition dictatorial powers. Under his administration the freedmen were armed, no white man was allowed to land on the island, and every effort was made to stir up feelings of animosity against the white race. Among other powers assumed by Campbell, he issued land grants, claiming to do so "by virtue of the authority vested in him by the President of the United States and General Saxton," and took especial care to bestow the best allotments on himself and relations. The conduct of this man had a most prejudicial influence on the freedmen, and placed them for a time entirely beyond the control of the assistant commissioner for Georgia. On his first visit to the island General Tillson discovered that prompt intervention was necessary for the interests of the freedmen themselves, as their lands were being uncultivated, and they were not far removed from absolute want. With much difficulty he obtained a hearing from them, and succeeded in restoring order and getting them to work, and abolishing the absurd form of government established by Campbell. General Tillson ascertained that of the whole number of land grants on the island, seventeen only were valid. These grants covered 515 acres, and were scattered all over the island. He consolidated them so as to occupy one section of the island only, leaving the remainder for cultivation by the proper owners. There are at present 625 freedmen on this island; of these 147 are working for Messrs. Winchester & Schuyler, of New York, who have rented a part of the Ordbury plantation, and the remainder are cultivating land on their own account. The 147 freedmen working for Winchester & Schuyler have planted 350 acres of cotton and 115 of corn: the 475 freedmen working for themselves have planted 200 acres of cotton and 200 acres of corn. From St. Catherine's we went to Sapelo Island, which is cultivated exclusively by Messrs. Dickson & McBride. The Freedmen here are working the land for two-thirds of the crop, and, so far as we could perceive, were well treated and cared for, and will make money if they can be protected from the bad influence of a bad man named--, who came among them last year with a permit from Captain Ketchum, Bureau Agent under General Saxton, bought their cotton at ten cents per pound in the seed, and paid them mainly in whiskey. This vicious man has exerted such an evil influence over these. Freedmen as to make them dissatisfied with an exceedingly liberal contract. On St. Simon's Island there are eighteen valid land grants encumbering four plantations. There are between five and six hundred Freedmen on the Island, most of whom are working for wages, are well fed, and appear to be perfectly contented. On two of the plantations they were working without formal contracts, but we are assured by the

Bureau Agent that these Freedmen relied confidently on being fairly dealt with by their employers. Our visit to this Island satisfied us that the Freedmen there were doing exceedingly well.

OGEECHEE RIVER SETTLEMENT. This settlement, embracing originally several hundred freed people, the largest colony on the coast under General Sherman's order, was last year under the control of Rev. Mr. Tiffany, an agent of the Bureau, appointed to that position by General Saxton. If the records kept by General Saxton were within our reach, we could, without doubt, obtain official information as to the workings of this settlement, but, in the absence of the records, we can only report such facts as are within the knowledge of General Tillson and other officers on duty in the Department. On taking charge of this settlement, Mr. Tiffany hired twenty-five Freedmen as a guard, armed with United States muskets, and used them to prevent any white man entering the settlement. Seven United States officers, who had not Mr. Tiffany's pass, were halted and refused the use of the Government boat to cross the Ogeechee river. This guard of twenty-five men, who served the entire season, were to be paid out of the proceeds of the Rice Crop raised by Freedmen of the settlement. Mr. Tiffany gave them certificates for the amount due them, which certificates they still hold, but are unable to get either rice or money. All the freed people of this colony were supplied through the season with Government rations, which were to be paid for out of their crops. We were informed by the Bureau Officers of the Department that none of these rations have ever been repaid. A very considerable crop of rice was made by the Freedmen, and Mr. Tiffany, the agent, advertised sixty thousand bushels of it for sale. General Tillson, who had in the interim assumed charge of the Bureau in Georgia, seeing the advertisement, ordered the sale to be suspended, and notified Tiffany that only bonded officers were authorized to sell Government property. What disposition was eventually made of the Rice Crop, or who received the profits of it, we were unable to ascertain. Mr. Tiffany shortly after this retired, whether voluntarily or otherwise, can only be determined by the records, which are not within our reach. Most of the freed people of the settlement became disheartened, and, voluntarily abandoning their land grants, are now working under contract for the former owners of the land, or the persons who have rented plantations from land owners. We have mentioned these particular cases as indicating the condition of the Freedmen occupying the Sea Islands and the Coast under General Sherman's order. Our personal observations, the evidence we have taken, and the inquiries we have been obliged to make to supply the place of records, have convinced us that the condition of the Freedmen of these settlements, while in charge of General Saxton, was such as to give but little hope that, under the policy pursued by that officer, they would ever become self-supporting, even with the fertile lands on which they are located placed at their disposal free from rent and taxes. The failure of General Saxton's administration resulted from a variety of causes, among which may be enumerated: The unnecessary continuance of Government support to the Freedmen, which tended to increase their natural improvidence and to encourage habits of idleness. Keeping them under such guardianship and tutelage that they were disinclined to make proper exertions for their own support or improvement. Teaching them to distrust all white men but those who had immediate authority over them, or who came among them with passes from the Bureau, thus preparing them to fall an easy prey to the sharpers who afterwards obtained access to them under the guise of friendship, taking advantage of their credulity, and fraudulently appropriating their crops. Their inexperience in providing for their own support, and in managing business for themselves. It is not in the power of Generals Tillson or Scott, until a crop has been raised under their respective administrations, to materially improve the condition of the freedmen on the Sea Islands. Although these officers have effected salutary reforms in the conditions of the blacks, and their disposition to labor, and have been instrumental in removing from their minds many of the absurb ideas which has been instilled among them, idleness, discord, and bitter prejudices against the white people still exist. The extent to which they were deluded by the few white men who had intercourse with them is almost incredible. Among the evidence taken in reference to their condition and which bears directly on this point, is the statement of a distinguished general officer, who was in command of a district embracing part of the Islands, as follows: "I assumed command in January, 1865, of a district in which the South Carolina Sea Islands were included. They were then in a state of turmoil and confusion. amounting to almost open rebellion. Armed patrols were maintained on the Island to prevent any white man from landing. Several gentlemen from Pennsylvania who attempted to land (improperly, I must say) were arrested by the freedmen. I had placed a guard on each wharf to prevent their being molested, but they chose to make a landing on a part of the Island where no guard was stationed. The negroes had been told and believed that a large force of rebel cavalry still occupied the woods on the mainland. Utter lawlessness prevailed, and cattle-stealing raids on the mainland by the negroes were of frequent occurence. I went over and broke up their military bands, and told them the war was over. I then went to work to organize a system of labor. I found the 40-acre allotments under General Sherman's order of most elastic dimensions. The largest I saw was 350 acres, and the smallest 312 acres. Many freedmen who had land orders for John's Island had settled on James Island, and certificates for Edisto Island were plentiful on Wadmalan Island. Scarcely any attempt had been made to cultivate the land. There were not more than two acres 'listed out' in any one path on Edisto Island. I had to discontinue the issue of rations before I could get them to work at all. I had nearly succeeded in getting them to work when the bill securing their land titles passed Congress, and everything was again thrown into confusion. Matters are now, however, getting straight again." An impartial comparison of the comparative condition of the freedmen on the South Carolina Islands and those in Florida and Southwest Georgia clearly demonstrates that the freed people who have remained on the plantations, and have been aided by the advice of sensible and practical military and Bureau officers, are infinitely better off than those who have been assisted with rations and clothing by the Government. In our opinion, the most equitable solution of the question of the occupation of the Sea Islands and the coast under Gen. Sherman's order will be to surrender the lands to the former owners, on the 1st day of January next, requiring the land owners to pay to the freedmen the value in money of all improvements made by them while occupying the land--this to be determined by a commission appointed by the Government. Of course we do not mean by this to interfere with any of the freedmen who may desire to surrender the lands they are now occupying at any time before that date, by arrangement between themselves and the owners of the land. Generals Tillson and Scott both concur with us that this arrangement will give general satisfaction to both the freedmen and landowners. Should the recommendation be adopted by the Government, we respectfully suggest that the order be issued before the 1st of September next, so as to give both parties ample time to make arrangements for the next season's planting.

FLORIDA

After completing our investigation of the Sea Islands, we went to Fernandina, Fla. Here we found Captain Leddy, of the Volunteer Reserve Corps, on duty as agent of the Bureau, having charge of a district embracing two counties, containing 1,000 freedmen. These are generally at work lumbering and get from $20 to $26 per month as wages. Captain Leddy is assisted by Major Schrearer, formerly an officer of the 7th Ohio infantry, who acts as an agent without pay, but is partially compensated by receiving $5 fee for each contract drawn up and approved. Captain Leddy is a good, judicious man, who, by friendly interference and good advice, has settled most of the difficulties which have arisen in his district between the freedmen themselves, and between the whites and freedmen, without litigation. We next visited Jacksonville, the headquarters of Captain Webster, who has charge of several counties, in which freed people are generally at work and are liberally compensated. There had been at this place, a few days before our visit, much bad feeling between the white and colored people, produced by irritating false reports circulated by vicious persons, but, through the efforts of the Governor of the State, the Department Commandant, and the officers of the Bureau, harmony and mutual confidence had been restored. We next visited Tallahassee, the headquarters of the Department Commandant and the Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau for the State, from whom we obtained the following statistics: •	1 major, brevet colonel, assistant commissioner. •	1 major, staff duty. •	3 captains, staff duty. •	5 captains, sub-assistant commissioners. •	3 first lieutenants, sub-assistant commissioners. •	5 second lieutenants, sub-assistant commissioners. •	6 citizens agents and subordinate commissioners, at average pay per month, $125. •	1 assistant superintendent of education; pay per month, $100. •	1 contract surgeon; pay per month, $100. •	4 clerks: average pay per month, $88 50. •	8 nurses for hospital and I messenger; average pay per month, $14 30. In giving the rank of the officers on duty in the Bureau, the brevet rank is omitted, in order that the rank may indicate the amount of pay drawn by each. The number of rations issued by the officers of the Bureau, or by post commander, on request of the assistant commissioner of the Bureau, in the State of Florida, since the 1st of December, 1865, to the 1st of May, 1866, were 12,716, valued at $2,023,25. The average monthly issue amounted to 2,543. Among the number who have been receiving rations were the inmates of the Orphan Asylum, located at Fernandina, which is under the charge of the National Freedmen's Aid Association, and the inmates of the Freedmen's Hospital, at Magnolia, which is controlled by the Bureau. The assistant commissioner stated that rations have been issued only to the inmates of the Asylum and Hospital, and in some isolated cases, when the circumstances of the freedmen show actual destitution and inability to provide for themselves and families. Some of the rations have been issued upon returns signed by me, by post commanders not connected with the Bureau, consequently I have not the data from which to report the number, age, and the sex of those who have received rations Brevet Col. T. W. Osborne, the assistant commissioner of the Bureau for Florida, is an intelligent and just man, and an energetic and impartial officer. The most favorable accounts were given us by citizens, by the military and Bureau officers, and by the freed people, of the good condition of the freedmen in this department, as well as of the encouraging prospects of the crops which they are cultivating. After leaving Tallahassee, the next point at which we stopped was Monticello, where there are several plantations, on which a large number of freedmen are employed working for one-third of the crops. Both planters and freedmen are satisfied, and all bear testimony to the wisdom and justice of the administration of the Bureau by Col. Osborne. Throughout the entire State the military, the Bureau, and the civil authorities are generally acting in harmony, which, in our opinion, is the main reason why the freedmen are more quiet, orderly, and thrifty here than they are in localities in which there is antagonism between these powers. The only exceptions to this state of things in Florida is at Jacksonville, the cause of which has already been stated.