Viewing page 165 of 257

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Roanoke Randolph County, Ala. 
March 17th 1866
General W. Swayne,
Montgomery, Ala.

Dear Sir- 
You doubtless remember that, before the adjournment of the Legislature, I called your attention to the great mistake in the Tabular Statement of the destitute persons in the different Counties, made by the Committee on destitution and supplies, in which they put down from Randolph about 440 families to 1700 persons, while the report from the County shows about 1600 families to about 5000 persons. Consequently, the allowance made to this County is only about one fourth of what it should have been, and of what the actual necessity requires and must be obtained to prevent starvation.

Now, General, as you generously promised me that you would endeavor to supply the actual necessities of our people, by furnishing rations extra to the amount allowed according to the Tabular statement, will you be kind enough to have a lot of rations, say 5000 to 10000, shipped to West Point, Ga. and I will designate Dr. Wiley E. White of West Point to receive them at the place, and receipt you for them in the name of the County, if you desire it. I assure you, General, that the destitution, among both white and black is alarmingly great. Women are daily walking from 15 to 20 miles to draw only a few days' rations, and the supply is now about out. The case is pressing and will not admit of delay. If you cannot relieve them, they must sink in despair, and, I fear actually starve! The picture is not overdrawn, I assure you General. I have heard women of good character and industrious habits, say, with tears streaming from their eyes that their families had had no bread in two or three days! I could fill a sheet of paper with incidents of this kind, if it were necessary. But, having had the