Viewing page 24 of 239

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

time in the county more ground ploughed up for corn &c then was ever known in one season before, which demonstrates the fact that somebody is at work"   I know plenty of Freedmen that are carrying on farms on shares. ie having half they can make, that have in some instances 60 acres ploughed up & are now putting in the corn &c-  fences are being put up as if by magic.   The white man as well as the black, in many instances is to be found in the field with the black, at work with a will.  The free labor system" is fast gaining ground here.  The one- great trouble at present with the freedmen is the unsettled condition of their domestic affairs much time being spent in looking up their children & kin- these people have very strong attachments for home & friends-  The majority of the Freedmen of this County are now settled down for the season-

Most of the farmers who wanted hands last month and owing to the scarcity here were obliged to go to Alex'a Va. & other places to get them-   A report of the demand for labor has been furnished Maj Johnson V.R.C. & Supt. 10th Dist which I suppose has been forwarded to you.  There is very little sickness among the freedmen-

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-23 14:18:27 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-24 20:36:57 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-25 08:07:44 corrected punctuation in a few places ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-25 09:03:55