Freedmen's Bureau Records: George T. Cook to R. S.
Lacey, December 31, 1866
Summary:
In his monthly report, Cook notes that while violence against freedmen is
infrequent, low wages keep them in a state of poverty. One Freedman is
aggravated by the lack of room in poor houses.
Bureau Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Office
Assistant
Superintendent
Sub-District
Number 10. 7th
District
Virginia
Comprising Augusta and Highland Counties
Captain R. S. Lacey
Superintendent 7th District
Virginia
Lynchburg Virginia
December 31st 1866
Staunton, Virginia
Captain:
I have the honor to submit the following Report of Bureau Affairs in this Sub-District for the Month ending December 31st 1866
But few complaints of Violence on the part of whites, have been made by Freedmen, and those made are of a trivial nature. Complaints in regard to pay have been quite frequent and I have assisted them all in my power by making out their accounts and instructing them how to proceed. I have talked with several Magistrates about such accounts and tried to convince them that the interests of the County require them to see that accounts for services should be settled, else the County will have the Freedpeople to care for as paupers.
It will, I fear, be difficult to make the Poor Commissioners attend to the
destitute Freedpeople there are many cases of whites, and it is hard for them
not to make a marked distinction in favor of the whites. I have a present
several cases of destitute Freedpeople in view of which
[page 2]
I shall make
seperate, detailed Reports, if the Poor Commissioners do not take them in charge.
The whites seem to think, so far as personal Violence is concerned that it is better to let the Colored people alone but they are nevertheless retaining a firm control of them through the system of low wages. The average according to the Census returns so far as completed, will not exceed $9 per month for able-bodied males, and between three and four dollars, for females. This average is only among those who receive any wages. Many do not get more than board and clothing.
Instances in which aged Freedpeople have been turned off by their former owner, utterly destitute are quite numerous.
Very Respectfully
Your Obedient Servant
George T. Cook
1st Lieutenant
Veterans Reserve Corps and Assistant
Superintendent
