Viewing page 115 of 281

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

182

(See Cir. No. 2 Hd. Qrs. B.R.F.& A.L. State of Texas, Galveston, Feby 7, 1867.)

Circulars No. 3 & 4 were speedily issued providing for the erection, leasing and repair of school buildings, making each Sub. Asst Com. the Supt of schools for his dist. with orders to periodically visit the same and use every effort for their progress and protection.

See Cir's No. 3 & 4. Hd Qrs. &c respectively [[strikethrough]] In [[/strikethrough]] Feby 12 & March 29, 1867.

Under this system of expenditure and effort the schools attained a marked development, the report for May showing a total of 57 White and 50 colored teachers, conducting 117 Day, Night and Sunday Schools with an enrolled attendance of 6702 pupils. 

Of this corps of teachers Sixteen were furnished by the American Missionary Association, [[strikethrough]] receiving from the Bu. [[/strikethrough]] and rendered faithful services.

The salaries of instructors ranged from ten to forty dollars pr month according to ability; those sent by the Missionary Assn. receiving from the Bureau free transportation and twenty five dollars a month and from their society living expenses.

Early in June the malarial and bilious fever of the climate have attacked so many of our teachers, particularly those from the North and the outlook for the Summer was so ominous that it was thought advisable to close the Schools with the month by the issuance of the following circular. 

See Cir. No. 6 Hd. Qrs. B.R.F.& A.L.
State of Texas, Galveston, [[strikethrough]] July [[/strikethrough]] June 19, 1867.

about one fourth of our teachers decided to remain and continue their work during the vacation under the conditions of this order but the rapid spread of the epidemic throughout the Seaboard and larger towns of the south paralyzed all further efforts.

Hundreds of our pupils perished and at least 3 faithful teachers. Now the healthy Season of the year has arrived the teachers are returning and our schools aided by the gainful experience of the past two years are about to resume their
beneficent course. 

It is estimated that the rudiments of learning have been furnished through this instrumentality to at least ten thousand adult freedmen and a still greater number of children. 


183

I submit Summary of number of Schools, teachers & scholars.

[[7 columned table]]
| Month | Year | No. of Day & Night Schools | No. of Sunday Schools | No. of White Teachers | No. of Col'd Teachers | No. of Pupils |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |

| November | 1866 | 39 | 12 | 22 | 18 | 1018 |
| December | 1866 | 33 | 12 | 20 | 16 | 1844 |
| January | 1867 | 39 | 13 | 27 | 15 | 3376 |
| February | 1867 | 51 | 10 | 29 | 23 | 3900 |
| March | 1867 | 68 | 23 | 107 | 59 | 4859 |

| April | 1867 | 87 | 32 | 51 | 69 | 5927 |

| May | 1867 | 98 | 29 | 57 | 50 | 6702 |

| June | 1867 | 92 | 22 | 64 | 34 | 6347 |

| July | 1867 | 50 | 12 | 35 | 18 | 2022 |

| August | 1867 | 28 | 9 | 29 | 15 | 1643 |

| September | 1867 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 615 |

| October | 1867 | 26 | 3 | 19 | 4 | 1070 |

Very Respectfully
(Signed) E.M. Wheelock
Supt. of Education
B.R.F.& A.L.

Medical
Relative to Medical affairs, I regret to report that during the epidemic of the past Summer both Surgeons on duty as chief medical officers of the Bureau died.  Their names are included in the list of deaths furnished with this report.  The duties of a medical officer in this State are merely nominal.  the Hospital reported last at Houston was early in the year turned over to the County authorities.  The epidemic that Swept along the Gulf Coast during the past Season and far into the interior fortunately had few terror for the freedpeople they being almost entirely exempt from its ravages.

While the epidemic dealt thus lightly with them: with those connected with the Bureau in its various branches the reverse is the case.  Sickness and death among them and their families for nearly three months paralyzed the operations of the Bureau, and finally the asst Comr. himself (Bt Maj Genl Chas Griffin) fell a victim to the ravages of this terrible Scourge.

The following list exhibits the deaths which have taken place among those connected with the Bureau during the past year.

Transcription Notes:
not finished 2-25 completed