Viewing page 309 of 341

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

year; in some cases articles are charged to them that they never had, in one case articles were charged twice (one a watch at $25) in the case refered to Rufus Beard rented a place, and has left for parts unknown owing the freedmen $294.27 in notes which I hold for last year they were to be paid Nov 30, I am informed he left last night enrout for Arkansas probably crossing the Mississippi river at Helena - His brother in law F.G. Mage was planting in company with R.H. Highey under the name of Mage & Highey, all of the stock was taken with them, Highey remains, and promises to pay so far as the crop will go - a part has already been sold - Both Mage & Highley endorsed the notes of Beard. I have sent for a guard to remain on the place until the cotton is picked, and packed probably there is enough to pay the freedmen in full.
Were it not for the agency of the bureau the freedmen would be cheated out of nearly everything by many planters and others. They cannot get justice at the civil courts, and another year many would starve unless fed by the government. Often times were there not an agent of the bureau here, and the fear of the military the freedmen would receive the most barborus, and inhuman treatment by their employers and others -