Viewing page 285 of 294

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

from Genl. Ludlow to permit his former slaves to remain on the old plantation until the crops were in, and then make fair compensation either in money, or share the crops; made the following verbal complaint (as he called it) to me.  (Capt. Pride I complain to you that Genl Ludlow ordered me to allow all my former slaves to remain on my plantation to a certain time, now I want you to make an investigation of this case and if you do not take them off the place; I give you fair warning, I will kill every one of them, and I want it understood that the northern Govt. or any other Govt. on the face of God Almighty's footstool can't make me keep them on my place.) - Capt. I am awaiting a [[strikethrough]] g [[/strikethrough]] guard and I will raise the dead, I mean those dead to shame and all manly principles, and there is not a few in this County.  I tell you the people are full of dull, deep rooted impudence; as they have most of them been out of the way of our troops, and the first that come in, they think come to enforce laws which they do not intend obeying, and they will find it true in my case-  As to the educational efforts on the part of the inhabitants for the education of Freedmen it is not worth mentioning, except to say they sneer at it, which is not to be wondered at for they will make no effort to educate their own children and none of them have learning enough to hush them.  There is not much abandoned property in this Co.  I have not of course found it all but will take it up as fast as possible and report the same to your office.-  The number of destitute in this Co. is very few as they cannot yet be turned off by their former masters.  

I am very Respectfully 
Your Obdt Sevt 
OL Pride &c.

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-01-19 15:34:33 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-01-21 20:36:10