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[[preprinted]] 466 [[/preprinted]] [[Footnote 1]] Pine lands worked about 50,000 Children bound by Indenture 76 Schools 67 Teachers 100 Scholars 7053 Hospitals 12 Sick 15 There has been a decrease in the number of destitute dependents, and a large increase of scholars in our schools. The officers are doing much to encourage the teachers in their self-denying work. Among the changes of officers that which I regret most is the loss of Capt. James who has so long and so faithfully served the Govt. in the care of freedmen. He has tendered his resignation & I have felt compelled to recommend its acceptance. But as he will remain in the state, the Bureau will have the benefit of his influence. Two Asst. Supts. have been relieved for misconduct. All others in the Bureau have discharged their duties with zeal, & to my entire satisfaction. Very Respectfully E. Whittlesey Col. and Asst. Commissioner. [[Footnote 1]] Howard [[line]] Bureau Refugees, Freedmen &c Hd. Qrs. Asst. Commmissioner Raleigh N.C. Jan. 15th 1866. Howard Maj. Genl. O.O. Commissioner &c General. I have the honor to transmit herewith my report of the various operations of this Bureau for the quarter ending Dec. 31st 1865. The figures and facts speak so plainly for themselves that I need add but very few remarks. Defective as our organization is in some aspects, hampered by its dependence upon & subjection to other branches of the War department; yet having got established and its machinery put in motion, it is doing its work with vigor and success. Many changes of my subordinate officers have been caused by the muster out of their Regiments, but the losses sustained have been partially compensated by details from the V.R. Corps. My efforts to secure the services of citizens as Agents of the Bureau have not met with success. Immediately after your visit here in Oct. I addressed a note to each member of the Constitutional Convention requesting him to give me the name of some suitable persons in his own county to be appointed to this office. But though as many promised to you their hearty cooperation in arranging this agency, not one replied to my request. I have however to other means found a few who were willing to accept the position & some of them have done good service. Others have proved unfit for the duties required, not being able to comprehend that a negro can be a freeman or can have any rights which a white man is bound to respect. My experience so far is against the appointment of any other than Military Officers. Even these after being mustered out [[end page]] [[start page]] [[preprinted]] 467 [[/preprinted]] [[Footnote 1]] are not as efficient as when in the Military service. They fail to command respect. They do not inspire the freedmen with confidence. As the year has drawn to a close, all the officers of the Bureau have been busy setting up claims for labor during the past season. The old story has been repeated thousands of times; no definite bargain made, no wages promised; but "Massa said, stay till the crop was made & he would do what was right". On that point "what is right" arises the dispute. But when the parties can be brought together and all the facts heard, it is in most cases easy to make a satisfactory decision. Capt. Evans, reported that as many as 150 claims & difficulties of this kind were brought before him in Warren Co. at the close of the year. So long as these claims and questions of wages were unsettled, it was natural that the freedmen should refuse to enter in any new contracts for another year. They wanted a little experience to give them faith. And it gives me pleasure to state that in a large majority of cases a fair settlement has been effected. I have put the question to officers in all parts of the State "How large a proportion of the white people are willing to treat the negroes with fairness?" The answer is "from three fourths to four-fifths". The other fourth or fifth would oppress them, & defraud them, if permitted; perhaps a larger proportion might show a disposition to do this, were it not for the restraining presence of a military force. One sitting a few days in one of our offices & listening to complaints from morning till night, might suppose that the whole laboring population was unsettled. But such is not the case. The great mass have made their bargains for the coming year, and trains are now moving from the towns to the farming districts. So generally have the freedmen sought employment, and obtained it, that the demand for laborers cannot be easily supplied. If in some instances they leave their employers, it is no more than we should expect, and often it will not be difficult to discover a good reason. By an arrangement with L.S. Olds & Co. Land Agents, I have an Intelligence Office in nearly every county. The expectation that lands would be granted by Government, a hope first kindled by rebel politicians in their efforts "to fire the southern heart", and afterwards increased by the Confiscation Act; has now passed away. All officers of this Bureau discountenanced such hopes, by public addresses & circulars widely scattered, but so fixed had they become before the war closed, that it was not easy to eradicate them. When however Christmas actually passed & the year ended without any gifts of the kind, it was admitted that we had told them the truth, & that they had been deceived by the talk of their former masters. So also on the other hand have the idle & conscience begotten fears of insurrection passed away. The holidays have gone by, and no outbreaks have occurred. All admit that a more quiet and orderly Christmas has never been enjoyed in this region. The history of the world may be challenged for another instance of such good conduct in similar circumstances, as the freedmen have thus far maintained. During the quarter (37) thirty seven cases of violent assault upon freedmen and other criminal acts have been reported to the Military Authorities for trial, or such action as might be deemed proper. Of these thirty seven [[Footnote 1]] Howard
