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[[preprinted]] 114 [[preprinted]] 260 Bureau Refugees Freedmen &c. Hd. Qrs. Asst. Commissioner Raleigh, N. C. April 24" 1866. Campbell J.A. Bvt. Brig. Genl. A.A.G. 255/263 Genl. I have the honor to report that on the 19" Inst. Jack Skinner (colrd.) was tried at Hertford, Perquimans Co. for rape, before Judge D.A. Barnes, convicted & sentenced to be executed May 4" 1866. As the accused was defended by able counsel, and no testimony was rejected on the ground of color, the officer in charge of that district did not interfere. Very Respectfully E. Whittlesey Asst. Comssr. [[line across page]] 261 Bureau Refugees Freedmen &c. Hd. Qrs. Asst. Commissioner Raleigh, N. C. April 28" 1866. Anderson Lt. J.H. A.D.C. 207/277 Lieut. In reply to your note respecting the City Hall in Wilmington I have the honor to state that on the 23" of April I issued orders restoring to the Mayor the entire building excepting such rooms as are needed for offices by the Freedmen's Bureau & other Military authorities, & the whole when no longer needed. Very Respectfully E. Whittlesey Asst. Comssr. [[line across page]] 262 Bureau Refugees Freedmen &c. Hd. Qrs. Asst. Commissioner Raleigh, N. C. April 28" 1866 Steadman Maj. Genl. 259/ Genl. I have the honor to reply to your communication of the 27" Inst. that I know of no officer who is "interested in the cultivation of lands within the limits of the Department of N.C.," in any other way than by furnishing money to pay wages and other expenses. My own interest is as follows. Mr. Horace James of Mass. (formerly Capt. & A.Q.M.) and Mr. Winthrop Tappan of Maine rent a farm in Pitt Co. I agreed to furnish one third of the money to pay expenses (including rent, wages &c.) on condition that laborers should be paid monthly an average of $10. good rations & quarters, & that I should receive an equal share with them in the nett profits. Mr. James lives on the farm and manages the whole business. When I last heard from him, he was employing about 140 freedmen; and had established two schools for the children. All were doing well and seemed contented. The other officers whom I suppose to be interested in the same way in the cultivation of lands, are [[end page]] [[start page]] [[preprinted]] 115 [[preprinted]] Bvt. Maj. F.A. Seely A.Q.M. with a Mr. Potter in Wayne Co. Capt. Isaac Rosekrans C.S. - with a Mr. Brooks in Pitt Co. Bvt. Maj. Mann A.Q.M. - with some person farming in Brunswick Co. (name not known) My knowledge as to these officers being thus interested is from report only; and I do not know whether the capital they furnish is loaned for a "specified rate of interest or for a part of the profits derived from the crops." No officer has contracted to furnish labor, so far as I know, or has received or been promised any compensation for procuring laborers. If an impression exists that such is the fact, it probably may arise from my orders to charge a fee of 50 cents for making contracts between employers & employees; which fees are paid into the Treasury of the Bureau. I do not know of any officer in the Military Service who is engaged in any business except the business pertaining to the duties of his position. I have visited as often as possible the principle stations, and have never found the officers absent from their districts, or negligent of their duties. Very Respectfully Your Obdt. Srvt E. Whittlesey Asst. Comssr. [[line across page]] 263 Bureau Refugees Freedmen &c. Hd. Qrs. Asst. Commissioner Raleigh, N. C. April 30", 1866. Campbell Bvt. Brig. Genl. J.A. Asst. Adjt. Genl. 260/268 General I have the honor to request that one enlisted man be ordered to report to Lieut. Wm. F. Cox Asst. Supt. at Rocky Mount Edgecombe Co; and one enlisted man at Halifax Halifax Co; to act as orderlies, these officers being now obliged to send their communications by the hands of freedmen. Very Respectfully E. Whittlesey Asst. Comssr. [[line across page]]
