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visiting a number of the larger plantations on the route and consulting with many of the largest land holders on the present and prospective condition of the Freedmen, their willingness to work and the encouragement offered them by the whites.  They represented that generally the blacks were willing to work for fair wages for certain length of time, but were unwilling to hire themselves for one year, choosing rather to change about for any slight difference in wages.  The Whites also object to renting them lands, giving as a reason that the blacks will not be industrious and economical, working the land to advantage either for themselves or the owners.  I arrived a Williamsburg Oct 30th. Capt [[Richman?]] 3d Pa Arty stationed at this pace was this day ordered to report to Fort Monroe for muster out of service, leaving this County without any military authority.  There are a great number of Freedmen in this County and between here Fort Monroe, and great Appalachians are felt by the whites that trouble may arise in consequence of the removal of the troops and the fact that many of the blacks who have been living upon abandoned plantations, which plantations are being given up by the government on the 1st