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Yorktown; there is nothing to tempt them back to their old homes as will appear.

The general condition of the freedmen was the subject of conversation between myself and several of the leading citizens, and the following statements made by them are submitted as evidence thereupon.

Mr Taylor, prosecuting attorney, said; "The freedmen are physically worse off than before the war, because they have not been used to taking care of themselves; there is no reliance to be placed upon their labor; they are fond of running around which makes the crops precarious."

Mr J.B. Vaden an enterprising farmer said "It is now harvest, and a good time for labor for the next three weeks; after harvest there is plenty of work till September; after that none, except for wood cutters, till next Spring. Labor is uncertain; there is great difficulty in paying off hands; when properly paid the labor will much improve. Think freedmen do not work as well as formerly - used to weed 4000 hills of corn a day a piece, now one man weeds but 2000 hills in a day. Would rather have negroes then German labor;