Viewing page 54 of 339

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Vicksburg July 8th. 1865

Captain;

I have the honor to report, that, in compliance with Special order No 5. Hd Pres. Sub. Dist South West Miss. I proceeded to the counties of Madison, Holmes, and Yazoo; but that I did not reach [[??]] from the fact that the County between Yazoo City and that County has been so overflowed, as to render the roads impassable. 

I found a Provost Marshal of Freedmen at Yazoo City, Lieut Foster, who seemed to understand his duties well, and to have performed them satisfactorily. There was no officer of the Bureau in either of the other Counties. 

The whole Country is in a state of Social and political anarchy, and especially upon the subject of the Freedom of the Negroes, but very few who understand their right and duties. It is of the utmost importance that Officers of the Bureau should be sent to all the Counties of the state, to supervise the question of labor and to ensure the gathering of the growing Crops, which if lost will produce the greatest suffering. In no case ought a Citizen of the locality be appointed to manage the affairs of the Freedmen, first because these men will wish to stand well with their Neighbor, and can not do Justice to the Negro, and secondly because the Negroes only know these men as oppressors of their race and will have no confidence in their acts. 

The Officer of the Bureau should be especially charged to impress upon the Freedmen the sacredness of the Family Relation, and the duty of Parents to take care of their children and of the ages and infirm of the race. When a man and woman have lived together as Husband and wife, the relation should be declared legitimate, and all parties hereafter contracting such relations should be compelled to legal Marriages by severe laws against Concubinage. When parents have deserted their children, they should be compelled to return and care for them, otherwise there will be great Suffering amongst the women and children, for many of the planters who have lost the male hands