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I was at Pine Bluff Sept 7th, 8th, & 9th Capt Saml. W. Mallory 64th U.S.C. Infty Superintendent has been on duty here for a long time.  The Refugees receiving rations here number about 140 persons, and are colonized on what is known as the Fish farm, 5 miles below the town.  With some assistance from Capt Mallory they have raised about 350 Acres of Corn which will measurably relieve the government form subsisting them, and many will go to their former homes as soon as their corn is gathered.  At the time I visited their camp I found considerable sickness generally of low fevers.

The Freedmen under the immediate care of the Superintendent, are situated in what is known as the "Cockrell home farm" adjoining the town of Pine Bluff, and in the "Johnston Colony" on the "Johnston home farm", five miles from the town

The first is the most flourishing establishment of the kind I have anywhere seen.  There are 876 Freedmen on this farm.  Notwithstanding they are mostly disabled men, women and children, they have produced 250 Acres of Cotton and 150 Acres of Corn, not to mention large quantities of vegetables and what has been produced in private gardens.

The cotton is now being gathered and elicits the praise of every body, and old planters say it is as fine a crop as was ever produced on the farm.