Viewing page 11 of 252

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Roanoke Island N.C. March 9th 1865
here is men here that has been working for the last three year and has not been paid for it. they work on the forts and cut spiles and drove them and done any thing that they was told to do  Capt James Came on the Island Jan. 1864 and told they men that he had made all the
[[strikethrough]] [[?]] matters wright abouts they back pay and now Says he I want all of you men that has due bills to carry them to Bonnell at head quarters and all them has not    [[man ?]] got no paper to show for they work  I will make them Swear and kiss the Bible and the man done just as he told them and he told us that he had made out the rolls and Sent them up to Washington City and now he says that many is all dead, So we are very well Satisfied [[strikethrough]] we know [[/strikethrough]] just So we know that he has never received it for our head men has fool us So much just because they think that we are ignorant we have lost all Confidence in them.  So all we wants is a Chance and we can Get a living like White men we are praying to God every day for the war to Stop So we wont be beholding to the Government for Something to Eat

Yours Respectfully Roanoke Island