Freedmen's Bureau Records: Horace Neide to Orlando
Brown, April 30, 1866
Summary:
Neide submits his inspection report of the 6th, 7th and 8th Districts. The
portion of of his report pertaining to the 6th District and to Augusta County
have been transcribed.
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, Abandoned Lands
Head
Quarters, Assistant Commissioner, State of Virginia.
Brevet Brigadier General O. Brown
Assistant Commissioner
Commissioner
April 30th 1866
Richmond, Virginia
General
I have the honor to submit the following report, giving in detail the status in which I found affairs of the Bureau, in the various sub districts which I visited in pursuance of orders subsequently mentioned:
In obedience to Special Order no. 61 paragraph 1 Series 1866 Head Quarters Assistant Commissioner State of Virginia I proceeded first to Harpers Ferry the Headquarters of Captain G.W. Wells A.Q.M. and Asst Superintendent of Sub District E, 6th District - consisting of Jefferson and Berklee Counties. . . .
. . . Head Quarters 6th District Winchester
Having completed my inspection of the above mentioned locality I proceeded to
Winchester Virginia the headquarters of Brevet Major W. S. How, Superintendent 6th District. Upon arrival I found Major How absent at Staunton, he having established his
headquarters there temporarily as more convenient of access for the citizens and
freedmen of the more southern portions of his district. Learning that he had
taken the more necessary books and papers with him, I proceeded directly to
Staunton as the better [unclear: point] for the time being, from which
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to learn the actual condition of affairs in the District. Upon
arrival at the latter place, I learned that both Major
How, and the Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Tukey,
were absent attending to business in some of the adjacent counties. The former,
however, returned to Staunton the evening of my arrival.
Condition of Freedmen &c
I made it my business both at Winchester
and Staunton and also at various points in my journey down the Valley, to
converse with the more respectable and intelligent looking citizens whom I met
concerning the condition of the Freedmen, the status of the Bureau, the question
of labor as to demand and supply, the condition of the county, &c.
Through the rural portions of Frederick, Shenandoah, Rockingham and Augusta
counties, I without exception heard that the Freedmen were nearly all employed,
indeed all the thrifty and better class, and that it was only the idle and lazy
who did not seek employment either regular or irregular who were without it.
Even with the impoverished condition of the land, owners and farmers in the
Valley, there is a demand for labor and all the Freedmen could be regularly and
permanently employed at fair wages - did all desire it.
Expense of the 6th District.
During the month of April the aggregate
expenses of the Bureau in this district have been somewhat reduced. One civilian
Superintendent and two clerks Mr. Hall and Mr.
Adams have ben discharged. Mr. [unclear: Carse] has been appointed Superintendent (Assistant) of
Clarke County and two messengers have been employed at
Woodstock and Harrisonburg at $15 each per month. Net decrease during the month
about $120. No further decrease in expenses can be made in this district I
believe at present at least, without hindering the operations of the Bureau,
except by the substitution of Officers for civilian agents, of which class there
are three - at Front Royal, Staunton and Clarke County
respectively.
I would however, respectfully recommend that Major How be directed not to employ in future, either clerks or messengers without the approval, before appointment, of the Assistant Commissioner. In this way only can the expenses be kept within the limit rendered necessary by the [unclear: straitened] condition of Bureau finances.
Bureau and Quartermaster Property
The District Superintendent has no stores
either Quartermaster or Bureau which can be turned over or disposed of. All the
property in his
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possession, and the amount is but small is necessary
for use distribution &c
Mr. Tukey the Assistant Superintendent of Sub-District B did not return to Staunton during my visit - and I had therefore no opportunity of judging of his papers or capacity for his position. He is spoken of favorably by Major How his immediate superior.
. . .
. . .
Respectfully submitted
H Neide
Lieutenant Colonel, Veterans' Reserve Corps
Inspector General
