Viewing page 269 of 283
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
532 1026 State of Alabama B.R.F. & A.L. Montgomery Nov 10th 68 531 Howard Maj Genl O.O. Commissioner &c Washington D.C. General: I have the honor to enclose herewith requesting its approval by the Commissioner, draft of an order proposed to issue from this office assigning H.M. Bush Agent to duty as Chief Quartermaster of the Bureau in this State. Mr. Bush is the most available person at my disposal for the position, and in view of this fact and that his present duties - in charge of school buildings more clearly belong to the Quartermasters Department, has been ordered to receipt to Col. Arthur for the property in his charge - as per Special orders No 116 C.S. copy enclosed. Very Respectfully Your obedient Servant Edwin Beecher Brvt Lieut Col. U.S.V. Asst Commissioner 1027 State of Alabama, B.R.F. and A.L. Montgomery Nov 10th 68 532 Howard Maj Genl O.O. Commissioner &c Washington D.C. General: I have the honor to submit the following report of the condition and operations of the Bureau and Freedmens Affairs in this State for the month ending October 31st 1868 It being the time for gathering and sale of the years crop, considerable trouble was necessarily was to be anticipated in the settlement of contracts: the greater portion of the freedmen engaging to labor for a designated proportion of the crop, the employer meantime furnishing in most cases the rations for the subsistence of the laborer and his family, and charging him therewith, to be deducted from his account. 533 In some cases over charges were made, but the practise of Sub Agents to whom the cases were referred in arbitration, of comparing each separate item, and disallowing all such erroneous entries, has very universally produced satisfaction both to employer and employé, and resulted in much practical advantage to both parties. The recent Act of the General Assembly, granting to the agricultural laborer a lien upon the crop, for labor performed thereon, is reported to be having a most beneficial effect among the farming population influencing the farmer to deal fairly with the freedmen and informing the latter that an honest contention for his rights, will meet with a ready response at the hands of the civil government. The crops both of corn and cotton, have proved very unfavorable and winter will find the price of Bread stuffs naturally higher, and the freedmen with less money to purchase: but little destitution however is looked for among the able bodied. Some suffering is reported in the Sub District of Montgomery among the aged and infirm for want of food and fuel, and a considerable supply of clothing and cloth, together with the surplus stores remaining after the discontinuance of the Soup Kitchen, have been distributed to the most needy, as equitably as possible. The fact that the freedmen do not fully appreciate the necessity of preparing for the next years crop, during the season when plantation work is dull, operate adversely to their eventually taking entire charge of their own interests, and it is feared in some sections, may work a permanent injury to the country. A large portion of middle Alabama is low, flat, and without suitable drainage, impracticable to inhabit. An admirable and immense system of drainage has been in existence over this country for many years which but little repaired during the war, and from want of means almost let alone since, has been suffered to decay to such an extent, that the malaria engendered thereby is fast forcing the people away from that vicinity. Several Counties have been, and are now with hardly a semblance of law or government in their midst - bands of armed men, self styled, - vigilance committees
