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SUMMARY REPORT OF
DISTRICT COLUMBIA:
By Bvt. Brig. Gen'l JOHN EATON, Jr.
Ass't Commissioner.

Major General O. O. HOWARD,
Com'r Bureau Refugees, &c.

General:- I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the Bureau specifically under my direction:

Your Circular, No. 4, requesting all officers or agents in any way connected with the care of Refugees and together an official statement, and much other valuable information. Much had been done by the Government, and by the benevolent, since this necessity first arose, especially during the preceding winter.

A tax levied upon the colored men employed in the Staff Departments of the army had furnished the funds from which expenditures had chiefly been made.

No lands were reported, save those in charge of Captain J.M. Brown, A.Q.M., and known as Government Farms, in Virginia and Maryland.

Much had been accomplished in the way of education; but no definite and complet reporte could be made out of the material furnished.

Relief establishments were in existence in the city, and at Freedmen's Village, and Mason's Island, under Capt. CARSE; at Alexandria, under Chaplain FERREE; and on the Government Farms, in Maryland, under Lieutenant O'BRIEN.

The work of reduction had been commenced, but the negroes had gathered here, as at a city of refuge, for safety from their bitter foes; they saw whence they came only the tortures and terrors they had escaped; many women and children had no adult male support, the men had been run off by the enemy, or gone into our military service; they could not turn back, and the north was not, generally, inviting to them; so the work attempted was difficult. But industry in the cities was over-supplied, and was being rapidly reduced by the discontinuance of Government work. The great armies, too, just coming from the field, left here their surplus servants. 

At once I began to send out officers to explain and enforce the new relations of white and blacks in the surrounding country, and, with your approval, with little regard to territorial limitations.

A hearty spring to industry, it was easily seen, could, so late as the organization of the Bureau, do much to raise from the fertile soil something with which to meet the sure necessities of the coming winter. There was a general disposition manifested to take advantage of the inexperience of the negroes; but they received news not only of their liberty but of its labors gladly, and generally arranged for the season's work at once, when still at their former homes. Unfortunately, the old masters often found it difficult to treat as free those so lately slaves, and for whose enslavement they had fought so fiercely, and against whose liberation they had cultivated ignorant prejudices for so many years. Complaints centered here from a wide extent of country, and were listened to with the same liberality of boundaries. Families, torn asunder by the various forms of violence which had become as essential part of slavery, came with their tears and sighs for reunion. Now and then an old master, still holding to the idea of chattlers, resisted.

Husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, limited by no shade of color or grade of intelligence, sought each other with an ardor and faithfulness sufficient to vindicate the fidelity and affection of any race- the excited joys of the re-gathered being equaled only by the previous sorrows and pains of separation.

Mothers, once fully assured that the power of slavery was gone, were known to put forth almost superhuman efforts to regain their children, travelling any distance, daring any perils, and even beating the pugnacious specimens of christian chivalry, in hand to hand conflict, and bearing off in triumph the long-sought child. Wisdom, however, was required in the aid we rendered, for, sometimes, the mother was not sufficiently emancipated the duties of a christian parent.

By the application of the various simple instrumentalities at hand, with the issue of few orders, abuses began to decrease, and the surplus population here to work off. Operations of the Bureau were specially required, and equally difficult to conduct. Congress had fixed liberty in the District of Columbia, and Maryland for herself. Both of these exercised their respective civil functions, and were supposed to have them in full force, and the adjacent counties of Virginia sought the same immunities.

The formal conflict of arms had ceased over all the country. Peace, with its simple instrumentalities, was principle, I felt it equally important that the utmost care and economy should characterize each disbursement of aid, alike as a duty to the Government and to the individual aided.

Governments as they approximate to the tyrannical, may, to save themselves from the violence of the mob, temporarily nurse multitudes into beggary. But Republics, dependent on the labor, integrity, and intelligence of the individual, cannot for a moment afford to empty their treasuries, or degrade the self-respect of any of their individual members, by any such disbursement of supplies will encourage beggary, or foster idleness, or other crime. The punishment of crime, the support of pauperism, and the reformation of juvenile and other offenders, and then aid of all unfortunate, and blind, deaf, idiotic, insane, &c [[?]] [[?]] include the idea of industry and self-support.

The negro has never been a beggar among us; he should not be made such now, as he drops his chains, and while he accepts his manhood as a ward of the Government. - With these views, looking over the facts in the light of your instructions, I determined to continue a single establishment for those entirely unable to support themselves. 

Freedmen's Village, though chiefly a self-supporting community, had needful buildings and accommodations, and was selected. The establishment on Mason's Island was broken up, most of the people going to work and supporting themselves. 

The Government Farms have been brought forward to the gathering of the crops, with few exceptions, returned to their owners, as ordered. These farms have been cultivated, not as a source of revenue, but as a means of industry to those who would otherwise have been entirely supported at Government expense. Those in Maryland, under care of Lieut. O'Brien, have furnished an asylum for the wives and children of many soldiers who joined our army from the midst of a white population chiefly engaged in aiding the rebellion, and of late, according to affidavits, disposed to class all loyal white soldiers with the negroes, in their hatred of the union, and subject them to the same insults.

Great efforts have been made to reconcile the labor and capital thereabouts, and induce the negroes to engage at industry with private parties. The bad faith of employers has prevented success. They would work well any where for kind treatment and fair wages; but one negro unpaid for his faithful services, or another bruised and cut by his faithless employer, was enough to rouse the abhorrence of their companions.

With all the opposition to the true interests of free labor prevalent in the surrounding community constantly disturbing the relations of employer and employee, the freedmen on the Government farms in St. Mary's county, Maryland, have proved the advantages of fair treatment and wages, and good faith, by producing with great economy of labor the best crops in that section of the State. Thirteen hundred acres were wheat, 630 acres corn, 248 acres tobacco, 240 acres oats, and 6 acres potatoes, -in addition to these were the gardens of the people. Besides the work on the crops, barns, fences, &e., have been built, and other permanent improvements made. The number of people has averaged about 500 during the season, about half of whom are laborers, and are paid regular wages. Most of the remainder earn enough to pay for their rations, while a few too old or too young, are dependent. Besides disseminating through the various agencies at work in behalf of the freedmen, and though colored churches, the importance of finding industry outside of the cities, I found it necessary; at an early day, to establish in this city, an Intelligence Office, to quicken and aid the acquaintance and confidence of those who needed work, and those who desired their services. Capt. SPURGIN has charge of this office, where he also hears all complaints, and listens to all calls for relief from suffering in this city and Georgetown. The duties thus performed are of so miscellaneous a character as hardly to admit classification. Prominent among them is the settlement of difficulties arising between whites and blacks, or among the latter, regarding contracts, &e., of which cognizance has been taken, and which have generally been adjusted satisfactorily without the delay and expense of an appeal, to the courts. Attention has been given to the collection of claims against the Government for labor, and thus the dishonest designs of pretended friends thwarted. Cases of personal abuse have been of rare occurrence, though occasionally the conductor of a street-car, or other person of similar authority, has exercised it unlawfully to the prejudice of the negro; aid having been given, no case of unjustifiable assault has gone unpunished.

Titles to property have been examined and determined where freedmen wishes to purchase.

Cases of destitution becoming known by any means are at once investigated, and proper measures taken for their relief,- and a general supervision of the interests of the freedmen, business and social, is being exercised with a 

there were about 153 deaths out of 3806 patients, or about 4 per cent. During the present year, from the organization of the Bureau to September 30th, out of 6251 cases treated there were 207 deaths, or about 3 per cent.

Frequent inspections of the freedmen in the cities have been made, and efforts to improve their sanitary condition. Owing to the neglect of the municipal authorities to enforce proper cleanliness and hygiene, it has been difficult to attain any very satisfactory results.

Arrangements having been made with the Mayors of Washington and Alexandria by which the care of sick and infirm freedmen, properly residents of those cities, has been assumed by them, the medical officers of the Bureau have received instructions to devote exclusive attention to those freedmen who have become such by the operations of the war.

In addition to the Hospital, two extra-diet kitchens are in operation in this city, where rations are issued to such sick and infirm, not treated in hospital, as require them.

It is believed that the present number of medical officers will be amply sufficient to supply all necessities during the coming winter. 

In view of the suffering brought upon the poor colored people by high rents, and the undesireableness of removing any of the buildings at Campbell Hospital, after in possession of the Bureau, I ordered some of the barracks separated by partitions into small tenements for cheap rents.- These are now occupied by such families as are most worthy, and least able to pay the exorbiant rents demanded by private parties. Similar tenements are being prepared at Sickles and Seward Barracks, in Alexandria.

The first report of rations issued to freedmen in this District, not including Alexandria, after the organization of the Bureau, was rendered May 31. The total number of rations then issued daily was 2574; 621 to laborers who paid for them, and 1953 to dependents. The exact number of people thus aided cannot be ascertained, 600 rations daily being distributed at the Government soup-house.

In September, Alexandria was added to the District.

October 31, 282 men, 849 women, and 346 children were reported as receiving rations. Of these 389 were laborers. 466 rations were issued daily to sick in hospital and quarters. The total daily issue was 1270,- a decrease since May 31 of 1304 daily.

The home established by special act of Congress, for women and orphans, conducted by a board of excellent ladies, and located in Georgetown, I have ordered from time to time supplied with subsistence. It has at present about 60 inmates.

The calls by refugees for aid have not been numerous. With few exceptions, it was found that by giving them transportation to their homes, they could relieve the Government of further expense by supporting themselves. No pauper establishment for their benefit has been opened. Twelve were reported as receiving rations. October 31.

No effort for the freedmen is complete that does not embrace their education. Most strictly debarred in slavery, as a rule, from letters, or any proper culture, no pledge of liberty is greater to them than the privilege of learning to read, especially, the word of God. Nothing so inspires their hope, or assures their self-respect, and awakens their efforts for themselves.

If the physician finds his patient rising and sinking under disease with the elevation or depression of his feelings, so much the more shall we find a slave-sick race, distinguished for nobility and largeness of sensibility, rising or falling in working out their freedom, according as we rouse their deeper religious and moral feelings.

Looking over the facts, I was stung with shame, that, at the Capital of our nation, distinguished for its liberties and general diffusion of knowledge, the negro was excluded from any chance for education. I found Congress had been mindful of the subject, and legislated upon it once and again, but foolish old prejudices had found means of thwarting the faithful and laborious treustees, to whom its execution was committed. The Mayor of Washington had refused to pay them the funds required by law.

A school or two had been suffered to exist here among the free negroes for a quarter of a century. More recently, loyal charity had opened numerous schools, but generally at great cost, paying rent, and in some cases at disadvantages to be overcome only by system.

About town was an abundance of buildings, erected by the Government, soon to be vacated and sold. Their retention for school purposes would be no outlay, and slight expense in any form.

If the Bureau had the "control of all subjects relating to Refugees and Freedmen from rebel States, or from any district of country within the territory embraced in the operations of the army," and was a part of the army, and its operations a moral and social campaign closing the war, I could see no difficulty in using the war power, and the fragments of its material, barracks, &e., for the execution of the most fundamental condition in the pledge of emancipation. Could the nation afford that this great assurance of [[illegible]] Presbyterian, N.S.R. Presbyterian, American Baptist Free Mission and American Tract Society. Besides the schools of these Societies, there are others, either exclusively private enterprises, or aided by local societies not reported.

The whole number of scholars reported was 4,884; the average daily attendance 3,566; 1,682 studied arithmetic; 1,006, geography; 254, grammar; 1,295, writing; 153, needlework, and 60, the higher branches.

Two schools at the Government Farms in Maryland, under the  auspices of the N.Y. Society of Friends, attended by an average of 130 pupils, have not been definitely reported.

In this city and Georgetown there were also 13 night schools, from which no definite report has been received; the largest attended by 150 and the smallest by 15 pupils- mostly adults.
There are three industrial schools in operation, conducted by agents of benevolent societies; two other schools of this kind, one in Washington [[illegible]] Bureau. A large amount of material adapted to the wants of these schools has been received from the Post-office Department and Sanitary Commission.

The advantages of the Soldiers' Free Library in this city have been extended for the benefit of the Freedmen, and it will be the depository for all the books donated to the Bureau in this District.

Since the date of the last report, other buildings have been secured and new schools opened to meet the constantly increasing demands of the colored people for educational facilities.

It is estimated that 6,000, or about one-fourth of the entire colored population in the cities, are now receiving instructions in the schools.

Of the improvement of the pupils, the Superintendent remarks: "My visits always encourage me to persevere in this good work. the progress of the scholars is remarkable under the circumstances. They are learning very rapidly, and often surprise me by their ready and correct answers to difficult questions."

The affairs of Freedmen in the three counties in Virginia assigned to my care have required comparatively little attention, save in Alexandria. Capt. Hoff has reported as Commissary of Subsistence.

Lieutenant Smith, in Fairfax, and Chaplain Ferree, in Loudon, are occupied chiefly in forwarding the adjustment of the new relations of whites and blacks. No rations are issued in either of these counties.

I have endeavored to have a complete census of these counties, and of the District of Columbia; but owing to the difficulty of securing soldiers for this duty, have been only partially successful.

Returns have been received from Fairfax County which show a total colored population of 2,941-1,552 males and 1,389 females. January 1, 1863, 2,167 of these were slaves; 774 free. One hundred and twenty-eight are able to read; 1,121 are children under fourteen years of age.

The estimated colored population of the entire District is 33,000.

At Alexandria, Capt. Hambrick's Provost Court for Freedmen, established at your request by Major General Augur, has been eminently serviceable in securing justice.

A strong disposition has been shown on the part of local judges and city magistrates to consider as still binding the old judicial rules in reference to negro testimony and suits.

efforts to punish by whipping were revived, but were checked by the prompt order of General Augur.

Aiming steadily at the securing of justice, simple justice, for the negro, in spite of the remaining disabilities and prejudices of slavery, thorougly convinced that this fairly done, the long-disturbing negro question was settled, I have more than anything else watched the tried to reach all incidents and influences which should prompt this among whites and blacks, and especially in the administration of justice. Some of the police of this city and Georgetown at first were not disposed to be questioned in regard to their mistreatment of blacks; just that has passed away under the prompt and faithful attention of Mr. A.C. Richards, Superintendent of Metropolitan Police.

Lieutenant S.N. Clark, my efficient Acting Assistant Adjutant General, made repeated examinations in Maryland, in answer to complaints, taking affidavits, and gathering trustworthy testimony. These reveal an antagonism between capital and labor hardly to be expected in a state where emancipation came by the voice of the people, and where the greatest present complaint is security of labor. A lingering feeling of disloyalty to the Government led many otherwise respectable people to countenance the misdeeds of those prompted to personal abuse of the negro, by their ignorant prejudices, and his powerlessness to secure legal redress. Cases of personal assault were numerous; the punishment of any assailant, if white, by the law, was unknown.

The same statute which debars the negro the right to testify where his person is imperiled applies also where his rights of property are invaded. He can by no means compel the good faith of his white employer.

The law in Maryland, by which, as interpreted, colored children may be apprenticed without the consent of their parents, and the abuse of it, bad as it is, operate to remove all those who would escape the forced separation of families, which formed so sad a feature of slavery.

Even written contracts to labor, including the names of each member of a family, have proved insufficient to protect from apprenticeship those whose age alone brought them within the scope of the law; and it has often happened that the children taken were the main stay of aged parents, whose best years had been spent in unrequited toil for their masters.

The fruits of these abuses have been not alone discouragement and hardship for the laborer, but uncultivated fields, short crops, and consequent peeuniary loss to the employer.

Heeding all the privileges of Maryland as a State which has respected its constitutional obligations, my endeavor has been to act not so much by direct authority, as to secure the best possible administration of bad laws, and exercise an influence in favor of their speedy amendment, to aid, as far as I might, in enforcing order, exacting good faith between employer and employee, preventing injustice and fraud, and promoting the best interests of all classes.

It is gratifying to find the number of complaints steadily [[declining?]]