Viewing page 89 of 256

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Bureau RF and AL
Hd Qrs Sub-Dist York and James City Cos. Va.
Yorktown Va  January 1st 1867

General: - 

Pursuant to Cir. No 1 C.S. Hd Qrs Asst Comr Jany 1st 1866, I have the honor to report, that, in York Co. there are a very large number of "Freedmen", who are not steadily employed, (the number cannot be well estimated) and, who resist all efforts, which tends to their removal to other points, where regular labor could be obtained for them.  Wedded to the land on which they were placed by the government, they do not wish to change their homes, but, remain here, doing an occasional job, instead of providing themselves with comfortable homes, in other neighborhoods.  There are also, a large number of women and children, who soon must be objects of charity; they live now in the Freedmens Villages, (Slabtown and Newtown.)  and have no visible means of support; persuasion has not as yet, induced but very few of this population, to remove where labor can be found, which is adapted to them.

I have the honor to be,