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Gates Co. on the Northern border of the state, far away from any influence of troops and where the Military power of the Government had been little felt.  No doubt it illustrates others in similar localities far from garrisons and northern influences.  The report will pay perusal, and appears to have been arranged with admirable tact on the part of Capt. Hill.

"Reports had reached me of the way in which David Parker of Gates Co. treated his colored people and I determined to ascertain for myself their truth.  Accordingly last Monday August 20th accompanied by a guard of six men from this post (Elizabeth City) I proceeded to his residence about forty miles distant.  He is very wealthy.  I ascertained after due investigation, and after convincing the colored people that I was really their friend, that the worst reports in regard to him were true.  He had twenty three negroes on his farm large and small.  Of these fourteen were field hands.  They all bore unmistakable evidence of the way they had been worked.  Very much undersized, rarely exceeding, man or woman, 4 ft. 6 or 7 inches;  men and women 30 & 40 years of age looking like boys and girls.  It has been his habit for years to work them from sunrise to sunset and often long after, only stopping one hour for dinner - food always cooked for them to save time.  He had and has had for years, an old colored man, one eyed, and worn out in the service for an overseer, or "over-looked" as he called himself.  In addition he has two sons at home one of whom he has made it a point to be with them all summer long, not so much to superintend as to [[underlined]] drive. [[/underlined]]

The old colored overseer always went behind the gang with a cane or whip, and woe betide the unlucky wretch who did not do continually his part.  He had been brought up to work, and had not the least pity for any who could not work as well as he.  Mr Parker told me he had hired his people for the season; that directly after the surrender of Genl. Lee, he called them up, told them they were free, that he was better used to them than to others, and would prefer hiring them, that he would give them board and two suits of clothing to stay with him till the first of January 1866 and one Sunday suit at the end of that; that they consented willingly, in fact proposed to remain with him &c &c.

But from his people I learned that though he did call them up as stated, yet when one of them demurred at the offer, his son James flew at him and cuffed and kicked him; that after that they were all "perfectly willing" to stay; that they had been watched night and day; that Bob. one of the men had been kept chained nights, that they were actually afraid to try to get away &c. &c.  There was no complaint of the food, nor much of the clothing.  But they were in constant terror from the whip.  Only three days before my arrival, Bob. had been stripped in the field and given fifty lashes for hitting Adam the colored "over-looker", while James Parker stood by with a gun and told him to "run if he wanted to, he had a gun there".

About four weeks before four of them who went to church and returned before sunset, were treated to twenty five lashes each.  Some were beaten or whipped almost every day.  Having ascertained these and other similar facts, I directed him to call them all up, and pay them from the first of May last, up to the present time.

[[Footnote 1]] Howard

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I investigated each case, taking into consideration, age, family, physical condition &c. &c estimating their work from ($8) eight dollars down, and saw him pay them off, then and there, allowing for clothing and medical bills.  I then arrested him and his two sons and brought them here (except Dr Joseph Parker whose sister is very sick) with all the colored people I thought necessary as witnesses, intending to send them to New Berne for trial.  But on account of the want of immediate transportation I concluded to release them on their giving a bond in the full sum of $2000. to Col. E. Whittlesey, Asst. Commissioner for the State of North Carolina, and his successors in office, conditioned as follows.

"That whereas David Parker and James Parker have heretofore maltreated their colored people and have enforced the compulsory system instead of the free labor system; now therefore if they each of them shall hereafter well and kindly treat and cause to be treated the hired laborers under their or his charge and shall adopt the free labor system in lieu of the compulsory system, then this bond to be void and of no effect, otherwise to remain in full force and effect, with good security."

Lt. Col. Clapp, Supt. Central District reports three cases of cruel beating, which have been carefully investigated, and the offenders turned over to the Military Authorities for trial; besides very many instances of defrauding freedmen of their wages.  From the reports of Major Wickersham Supt. Southern District, I quote the following;

August 25th A.L. Miller Bladen Co. states that Henry Miller (colored) neglects to support his family.

Action - Required Henry Miller to use his wages for the support of his wife and children who have no claims on their former master and can look to no one else than the husband and father for support.  27th Betsy Powell (colored) stated that Mrs Frank Powell, Columbus Co. has driven her away without pay for her labor.

Gave letter to Mrs Powell, directing her to pay Betsy for her labor since April 27th 1865.

29th [[Jim?]] Shines (colored) states that he made an agreement with Mr Danl. Russell, Robeson Co. to work and gather his crop for which he was to receive subsistence &c and one third of the crop when gathered.  Mr R. has driven him off and refused to pay.  Wrote to Mr Russell directing him to comply with terms of agreement or furnish satisfactory reasons for not doing so."

These are but examples of hundreds of complaints heard and acted upon by Major Wickersham and other offices in the Southern District.

The following cases are taken from the report of Capt. Barnett Asst. Supt. Charlotte.

Morrison Miller, charged with whipping girl Hannah (colored) found guilty.  Action.  Ordered to pay said Hannah (50) fifty bushels of corn towards supporting herself and children, two of said children being the offspring of Miller.

[[Footnote 1]] Howard