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4
2nd Division, 11th Sub District, Va., 
(Comprising the Countries of Buckingham and Cumberland.)
Cumberland County. 
This county is in a bad condition - Everything appears wretched - Houses, Outfielding, and fences dilapidated and the people discouraged - Several causes contribute to this state of affairs. The line of retreat to Appomattox C.H., was over this county, and the Army swept off stocks and property - and destroyed most of the fences - This, however, is the least cause of the poor condition of affairs. The Freedmen have been led to believe, by designing men, that land and personal property was about to be divided among them, by the action of the Convention at Richmond, thus not only discouraging industry on the part of the freedmen, but encouraging improper demeanor and dishonesty, while it irritated and depressed the whites - Most of the labor now performed is for share of the crop, and judging from progress made at this late season, there will not be enough grain raised to feed the people of the County. I talked earnestly to many of the folly and culpability of their conduct, but so strong is their belief in the agitator, who has present control of them, that many, instead of heeding my warning and counsel, speak of me as a "Reb"-. The conservative orators, whose speeches I heard at the Court House, make bad worse by unmeasured denunciation of every thing and person not in accord with their old cherished dogmas. There are some sensible and industries freedmen in this County, and if the falsity of the promises, made by their present leader, is fully demonstrated, they will assume the lead, and affairs become less deporable-.

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-12-10 07:16:35