Viewing page 16 of 241

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

over thirty and at least half of them under 25 and three or four of them between 10 and 20. Two of them woman. I considered of no value in March 1862, one of them was there in Bed and crazy and remained in Bed demented under Medical attention till the 26th day of March last when she left her Bed as she said to see her dear [[strikethrough]][[?]][[/strikethrough]] Mistress (my dear Wife for upwards of forty years died that day) once more upon the Earth and though it appears to me miraculous, the old Creature has retained her mental facilities ever since but she is too weak and infirm to Labour and with the women and children as the men (the Labour's) is all gone, I think the government should make some provision and provide something for them. I have received verbal messages from some of the men, indeed one of them have been here a few days back and they say if I can and will procure horse power and Farming implements and feed and clothe them all this year they will come and work my lands and live off of their shares of the crops after this year and I might and think I should accept of their terms, if [[strikethrough]]if[[/strikethrough]] it was in my power to procure the Horses &c, but it is not, I had an abundance of everything of the kind in March 1862, but I have from time to time been deprived of all since and as I do not consider it necessary or important to state how I have been deprived of my property I shall only say that I have by the Federal Officer and Soldier Considered a rebel I am now fearful I have tired you and worn out your patience; but hoping and believing you are a Gentleman and humane man I shall state my present situation with the freedmen as I have the past. In 1862 all left me but [[strikethrough]]five[[/strikethrough]] [[strikethrough]]fifty[[/strikethrough]] Four say the old man [[strikethrough]]?[[/strikethrough]] Two of the old women, [[strikethrough]]and [[/strikethrough]] one young woman and Six children the oldest three years old and in the early part of Nov. 1864 the old man & his wife (the strongest of the two old woman (the other at the time in her Bed as crazy as a [[?]] Being tied by the Leg and four of the largest children left leaving her the crazy old woman and