a FREE MAN. The freedmen came to me to know whether they were or were not free, and to obtain advice in regard to what it was necessary for them to do. The majority of them I advised to go back to their former homes, and remain there and labor as long as their rights were respected and wages paid them. It gives me great pleasure to state, that at the first of the month there had been drawn no rations from the Government for the support of the freedmen here.

I desire to say that I am under great obligations to Major-General Herron for the kind, cordial and valuable assistance rendered me in carrying out my plans, while he remained in command, and also to Brigadier-General Veatch for the same favors since his arrival here.

EXTRACT FROM ANOTHER REPORT BY THE SAME OFFICER.

I am happy to be able to report that the planters and freedmen in this section are generally entering into written contracts, which are binding for the rest of the year. Where there are many infirm and helpless to support, and the planter has but a small crop to secure, the contract is for food, clothing, houses, fuel, and medical attendance; but working hands are receiving as compensation from two to twelve dollars, in money, per month in some cases; in others from two to thirteen and one-half bushels of corn per month, or a share of the crop, varying, according to circumstances, from 1-14 to and of the whole amount raised.

There is a great demand for labor now, and there are no idle freedmen about the city. Not a ration has been dramn for any freedman here, except for the sick and attendants at the hospital.

EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF CAPT. FRANK MOREY, ASST. SUPT. FREEDMEN, MONROE, LA.

JULY, 1865.

In about two months hence I shall commence fitting up a plantation for a colony. The Pargoud estate, near town, is, I think, abandoned, and will make a fine farm. There will be a great many very old and very young to be taken care of this winter, for many of the best hands in this section were driven off to Texas during the war. I shall have about two thousand contracts made by the 31st inst. There are about twenty five hundred plantations to put under contract, as near as I can estimate. I have sent agents into the parishes to make contracts, pending the arrival of the Provost Marshals. It is hard to make these people believe that they must not pursue the old system of punishment, but they must come to understand that freedom to the slave is an unalterable fact.

EXTRACT FROM REPORT OF LIEUT. L. S. BUTLER, ASST. SUPT. OF FREEDMEN, ALEXANDRIA, LA.

ALEXANDRIA, LA., July 10, 1865.

Some planters seem inclined to treat the freedmen as though they were free, and to pay them their wages, while others talk and act as though they were determined to get their labor for nothing, believing that they will "yet have them back as slaves." An anonymous letter was brought to my notice the other day, warning parties agamst hiring these people; threatening the destruction of their property if they do. I have not yet been able to find out who is the author of it. I mention the circumstance to show you the feeling entertained by some.

What is to be done with minors having neither father nor mother? Also, what is to be done with planters who refuse to hire their former slaves at any price, even when the freedmen are anxious to do so? The brother of Gov. Wells is such a man. His crops are now all "laid by," and he has nothing more to do until it is ready to harvest. His hands have done all they can for a time, and so he wants to send nearly all of them away, retaining enough only of the best ones to harvest his crop when it is ripe. What ought I to do in such a case?

ALABAMA, AND THE WORK IN THAT STATE.

On the

day of

the United States forces under your command occupied the city of Mobile. On the 19th of May, the following order was issued:

HEADQUARTERS, ARMY AND DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
Mobile, Ala,, May 19, 1865.

GENERAL FIELD Orders

No. 28.

MR. THOMAS W. CONWAY, General Superintendent of Freedmen, Department of the Gulf, will take charge of the freedmen in and around Mobile. Such officers as he may appoint will draw the necessary supplies from the Commissary and Quartermaster's Department, upon requisitions approved by the Commander of the Post. Supplies not furnished by these Departments, will be procured from funds in the hands of Mr. CONWAY.

All persons formerly held as slaves will be treated in every respect as entitled to the rights of freedmen, and such as desire their services will be required to pay for them.

Care will be taken not to disturb abruptly the connections now existing, and all colored persons having places or employment are advised to remain, whenever the persons by whom they are employed recognize their rights and agree to compensate them for their services.

All unemployed colored persons will report at once at the office established for the care of freedmen, for the purpose of having their names and residences registered, and being provided with employment. Those employed by the Government will be regularly enrolled, subsisted and paid. Copies of the rolls of those employed in the different departments of the army will be furnished the Superintendent of Freedmen, and when discharged from that employment will be directed to report to the Superintendent. By order of Major-General E. R. S. CANBY:

C. T. CHRISTENSEN.

Lt. Colonel, Ass't Adjutant General.

I immediately assumed the duties imposed on me by this order, and devoted myself to the task of providing for the great number of freedmen who had flocked to our lines, and were without shelter, or even food to maintain them from day to day.

I found the freedmen well disposed, and apparently desired nothing to quiet their apprehensions but an assurance, from some one they could trust, that the freedom guaranteed to them by the Emancipation Proclamation was a fact, and that the whole power of the United States would protect them in the enjoyment of their liberty. I adopted such measures as would tend to check idleness, and secure the labor of those able to work. I took particular pains to assure them on the subject of their freedom; and notwithstanding their sudden transition from the condition of slaves to freemen, I had the satisfaction of seeing both white and black adapting themselves to the new order of things, and all the measures taken by me for the education and elevation of the freedmen are progressing finely.

The surrender of the rebel forces under General Dick Taylor, placed the Gulf States again under the control of the Government. The following letter of instructions was received by me:

HRADQUARTERS, ARMY AND DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
Mobile, Ala., May 22, 1865.

Sir-The Major-General Commanding directs that you proceed to Montgomery, Ala., and such other interior points as you may find it necessary or expedient to visit, for the purpose of giving your personal supervision to the arrangements that may be adopted for the care and support of freedmen within the limits of this command, and not already provided for in the Department of the Gulf and Mississippi.

The provisions of General Orders No. 13, from these Headquarters, of General Order No. 23, from Headquarters, Department of the Gulf, and of the enclosed memoranda, will govern, so far as they may be found applicable to the circumstances of the locality and the present condition of the planters and the colored people.

The Major General Commanding does not consider it necessary to give you detailed instructions, which might possibly embarrass your action, and he relies implicitly upon your knowledge of the subject, and your judgement, to make the best arrangements that can be made.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. T. CHRISTENSEN,

Lieut. Colonel and Asssistant Adjutant General.

Thomas W. Conway, Esq., General Superindent Bureau of Free Labor, Mobile' Alabama.

MEMORANDA.

HEADQUARTERS, MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
New Orleans, La., May, 1865.

All persons formerly held as slaves will be treated in every respect as entitled to the rights of freedmen, and such as desire their services will be

required to pay for them. Care will be taken not to disturb abruptly the connections now existing, and all colored persons having places of employment are advised to remain, wherever the persons by whom they are employed recognize their rights and agree to compensate them for their services.

Until the regulations to be established by the Bureau of Freedmen at Washington have been promulgated and applied, the following provisional regulations will be enforced in the limits of this command, except that in districts where the system promulgated in General Order No. 13, of February 1, 1865, has been applied, no change will be made; and the general provisions of that system will be extended, as far as the circumstances of the case make them applicable.

1. Planters, and all persons engaged in industrial pursuits, may hire the number of colored men they desire to employ, on such terms and conditions as the parties may agree upon. The contract must, in all cases, be reduced to writing, and a copy furnished the person employed. It must state distinctly whether the consideration is to be paid in money or in a share of the products raised, and must be approved by the Assistant Superintendent of Freedmen in whose District the transaction takes place. In addition to this consideration, the employer will furnish the person hired with good lodgings, fuel, food, clothing, and medical attendance.

2. Contracts will be made to the 31st of December proximo. After that date, new contracts must be made, if desired.

3. Mr. Thomas W. Conway, General Superintendent of Freedmen of the Department of the Gulf, will also have general charge of the freedmen in the States of Mississippi and Alabama, and such other localities as are or may be occupied by troops belonging to this command, and will establish branch offices in all principal localities, giving to his Assistants, in addition to the general rules necessary for their guidance, such special instructions as will secure to colored employées' protection in their rights as freedmen, and tend to make them appreciate their "new privileges and obligations in all the relations of life.

The officers appointed by him will draw the necessary supplies from the Commissary and Quartermaster's Departments, upon requisitions approved by the respective post commanders. Supplies not furnished by these Departments will be procured from the funds in the hands of Mr. Conway.

4. All unemployed colored persons will report at once, at either of the offices established for the care of freedmen, for the purpose of having their names registered, and being provided with employment. Those employed by the Government will be regularly enrolled, subsisted and paid. Copies of the rolls of those employed in the different departments of the army will be furnished the respective Assistant Superintendents of Freedmen, to whom all persons discharged from such employment will be directed to report.

5. Agents will at once be sentjinto the interior for the purpose of explair: ing to the planters and the freedmen the new relations that now exist between

them, and to facilitate such measures as may be necessary to secure the growing crops, and avert the danger of scarcity and famine.

6. Commanding officers are directed to furnish every facility and assistance that may be required to the officers charged with the execution of this order, and the rules that are now, and may hereafter be, established by the General Superintendent of Freedmen.

A true copy. Attest:

C. T. CHRISTENSEN,

Lieutenant Colonel and Assistant Adjutant General.

In accordance with my instructions I began a tour of inspection through the State, to enable me to form a just conception of the wants of the freedmen. I visited the main points on the Mobile and Great Northern Railroad, where I found much misery and suffering. In some cases I found white men, returned rebels, who were being supported by the blacks who were formerly their slaves. I appointed the following officers as my assistants, and located them at the following towns:

George A. Harmount, late Lieutenant Colonel 97th U. S. C. I., Assistant Superintendent for city of Mobile and vicinity.

Capt. H. M. Crydenwise, 73d U. S. C. I., Assistant Superintendent for Demopolis, Ala., and vicinity.

Chaplain S. S. Gardner, 731 U. S. C. I., Assistant Superintendent for Selma, Ala., and vicinity.

Chaplain C. W. Buckley, Assistant Superintendent for Montgomery, Ala., and vicinity.

These gentlemen entered upon their duties, having their headquarters as above, but extending their labors through the surrounding country, addressing the freedmen, explaining to them the nature of their situation, and impressing upon their minds the necessity for them to labor and support themselves and families; that idleness would be considered a crime and could not be tolerated. I was quite fortunate in securing the services of such valuable assistants; their hearts were in their work, and they entered into it with their might. The result of their labors is most flattering to them and constitutes their best reward.

The labor system, which had proved so successful in the State of Louisiana, was adopted in Alabama, and planters, to some extent, showed a creditable spirit, and seemed willing and anxious to secure the services of their former slaves, upon contracts securing to the freedmen compensation, food, medical attendance and a comfortable home. The Assistant Superintendents visited the plantations and witnessed these contracts, protecting the freedmen from fraud and imposition.

OUTRAGES UPON FREEDMEN.

Many cases of outrages upon freedmen occurred prior to the establish