Identifier: southtourofitsba7228trow (find matches)
Title: The South : a tour of its battlefields and ruined cities, a journey through the desolated states, and talks with the people ; being a description of the present state of the country, its agriculture, railroad, business and finances ; giving an account of Confederate misrule, and of the sufferings, necessities and mistakes, political views, social condition and prospects, of the aristocracy, middle class, poor whites and Negroes ; including visits to patriot graves and rebel prisons, and embracing special notes on the free labor system, education and moral elevation of the freemen, also, on plans of reconstruction and inducements to emigration ; from personal observations and experience during months of Southern travel
Year: 1866 (1860s)
Authors: Trowbridge, J. T. (John Townsend), 1827-1916
Subjects: Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)
Publisher: Hartford, Conn. : L. Stebbins
Contributing Library: Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection
Digitizing Sponsor: The Institute of Museum and Library Services through an Indiana State Library LSTA Grant

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ske appeared to me peculiarly fitted for his posi-tion; and he was generally supported by firm and efficientofficers ; althouo-h, like all the Assistant - Commissioners Isaw, he complained that the law establishing the Bureau didnot permit him to choose his own agents. He had to takesuch army officers as were given him ; some of whom werealways found to be incompetent, or neglectful of their duties,or so prejudiced for or against the blacks that they were ren-dered incapable of administering justice. A few were in sym-pathy with slavery. Others, meaning to do right, were seducedfrom a straightforward course by the dinners to which theywere invited by planters who had favors to ask. With such,the rights of the freedmen were sure to suffer, when into theopposite scale were thrown the aristocratic Rebels flatteringattentions and the smiles of his fair daughters. It was the practice of the agents of the Bureau to makefrequent tours of their counties, and General Fiske himself was Q Q H!2l
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Jk OLD WROKGS RIGHTED. 839 in the habit of running off every few days to visit some impor-tant point, where his organizing and concihatory influence wasnecessary. Often he would find the planters and the freedmenseparated by hedges of animosity and distrust. Usually hisfirst step was to call together as large an audience as could beobtained of both classes, and explain to them the object of theBureau, and the duty each class owed the other. In nearlyevery instance, earnestness and common sense prevailed; thefreedmen came forward and made contracts with the land-owners, and the land-owners conceded to the freedmen advan-tages they had refused before. Sometimes exciting and dramatic scenes occurred at thesemeetings. Not long ago, said General Fiske, I addresseda mixed audience of three thousand persons at Spring Hill.The meeting was presided over by a black man. Rebel gen-erals and Federal generals sat together on the platform. Imade a short speech, and afterwards answered questions for

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