US History

Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877)

African Americans

Law and Government

This collection uses primary sources to explore the history, successes, and failures of the Freedmen&#39;s Bureau during Reconstruction.

An 1868 engraving showing a man representing the Freedmen's Bureau standing between a group of white planters and emancipated slaves.

An 1866 illustration from Harper's Weekly of the Freedmen's Bureau Office in Memphis, Tennessee.

An illustration of the Freedmen’s Bureau issuing rations “to the old and sick,” 1866.

An 1866 illustration of an African American soldier’s marriage conducted by a chaplain of the Freedmen's Bureau.

A photo of a school in Liberty County, Georgia, circa 1890.

This school was one of the many established by the Freedmen's Bureau in Georgia between 1865 and 1870.

A letter to the assistant inspector general of the Georgia Freedman's Bureau, 1868.

The letter describes violence against freedmen by whites at a Republican political rally later called the The Camilla Massacre.

Transcription:

Hd Qrs Sub Dis't [Head Quarters Sub District] of Albany, Bureau R. F. & A. L. [Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands]  
Albany, Ga. [Georgia] , Sept [September] 20. '68 [1868]  
Col [Colonel] J. R. Lewis  
U. S. [United States] Army  
Atlanta. Ga. [Georgia]  
Col, [Colonel]  
The affair at Camilla seems to have been a massacre. I enclose an accurate list of the killed & wounded so far as known.  
A freedman who was a prisoner at Camilla, but who escaped during the night, states that he helped to remove one dead freedwoman, & four wounded freedmen from road within a hundred yards of the Court House. The white men, his captors, boasted, to new comers, of twelve freedmen killed in one pond near Dr Dasher's, two miles from Camilla  
(con) [continued] 

*[page two]*

Another freedman took refuge in a swamp where he lay concealed all last night, with four others near him. He heard, during all the earlier part of the night, the white men scouring the woods, shouting, cursing, and shooting the freedmen. The pursuers, he says were accompanied by Bloodhounds, he heard the cries and shrieks of the fugitives as they were shot, and as they were pulled down by the dogs. Two of the men, near him, becoming frightened, endeavored to escape, and both were shot within his hearing.   
It was reported to me as late as 4 this P.M. that, up to 8. O'clock this morning, when my informant left, they were still pursuing the freedmen with horses & dogs.  
There has been an intense excitement in town all day.  
The town has been filled with freed men, they have swarmed about my office  

*[page three]*

by hundreds. It has been difficult to restrain them from proceeding " en masse " to Camilla, I have addressed them counselling [counseling] peace and order, I have told them that the offenders shall be punished, and that their lives should be protected, but, I have no heart for my work. I felt no assurance that my promises would ever be fulfilled.  
The Mayor addressed them, as did some citizens, but the freed people scoffed at them, would not listen to them, & I had the whole burden to bear, at this hour (midnight) all is quiet.  
How long I shall have the heart to deceive these freedmen by false promises, & how long I shall be able to deceive them by such promises, I cannot say, but I imagine that it is not long, & when they

*[page four]*

have no confidence in my fair promises, what then? Dr Raushenberg has returned from Fisher & Flaggs   plantation, nine miles below here, where he has been all day caring for the wounded.  
I will tomorrow take affidavits of wounded men, & others, & prepare an official report.  
Please instruct me & inform me what action will be taken, Military or Civil Authorities.  
Very respectfully   
(signed) O. H. Howard   
Bt. Maj [Brevet Major] & S. A. C [Sub Assistant Commissioner]  
Can you not send an officer to assist in the investigation.  
A true copy M Frank Gallagher Bt. Capt. [Brevet Captain] U.S.A. [United States of America] A.A.A.G.  


An excerpt from Freedmen’s Bureau documents showing Abraham Lincoln’s 1865 Freedmen’s Bureau bill and Andrew Johnson’s 1866 veto.

A letter from a North Carolina Freedmen's Bureau to an employer who failed to pay his African American servant, 1866.

Transcription:

Headquarters Freedmens Bureau  
Sub. Dist. [District] of Tarboro, Rocky Mount N.C.  
January 14th, 1866.  

Mr Enos Harrell  
Edgecombe Co. N.C.

Sir:  
Complaint has today been made at the headquarters by Sophia Dunford, a freedwoman, who states that she worked for you last year and that you have given her no money--to save further trouble, you respectfully requested to settle with her. Such hours are worth at least four dollars per month. If you can’t settle with her, come to office on this day week Saturday next when the matter will be investigated. 

Respectfully Yours  
William Fox  
Lieut. [Lieutenant] Veteran Reserve Corps  
Assistant Superintendent  

Recieve in full of the above account of Enos Harrell Jan the 20 1866  
Soph “her mark x” Dunford  

E, E, Cobb 


An 1866 contract between the Dean Hall plantation and freedmen and women workers, approved by the Freedmen's Bureau.

This contract outlines working conditions, such as "comfortable quarters," the length of work days, and penalties and compensations. 

Transcription:

State of South Carolina   
District of Charleston   
Articles of Agreement made and entered into this twentieth day of February 1866. by and between Thomas B. Ferguson and the Freedmen and Freedwomen whose names are hereunto attached   
1st The said Freedmen and Freedwomen agree to hire their time and labor on the Plantation known as Dean Hall situated on Cooper River in the Parish of Saint Johns Berkley in the District and State aforesaid ~ from the date of the signing of this Agreement to the 1st day of January 1867. They agree to conduct themselves honestly and civilly and to perform diligently and faithfully all such labor on said plantation, as may be connected with, and necessary for, the raising, harvesting, and protecting of the crop. The said Freedmen and women further agree to bring no ardent spirits, at any time upon the plantation, also not to invite visitors upon the premises or absent themselves from the same, during working hours without the consent of the said T. B. Ferguson or his Agent.   
2nd The said Freedmen and women agree to perform reasonable daily tasks on said plantation and in all cases when such tasks cannot be assigned, they agree to labor diligently ten hours per day, unless the weather be such as to actually forbid labor, or the said T. B. Ferguson or his agent excuse them from work, in either case no deduction for loss of time shall be made.  
3rd For every day's labor lost by absence, except for reasons stated above the laborer shall forfeit fifty cents. If absent more than three days without leave, unless it be on account of sickness or other unavoidable cause to be subject to dismissal from the plantation and forfeiture of his or her share of the crop, such forfeiture to inure to the benefit of the said T. B. Ferguson and laborers in proportion to their relative shares of the crop. The said T B Ferguson however shall in all cases pay the party dismissed at the rate of Five dollars per month for full hands and others in proportion, for such time as said party may have worked on said plantation, deducting therefrom any advances that may have been made by the said T B. Ferguson, either in money or provisions which were to be accounted for, one half the wages so paid shall be refunded to the said T B Ferguson by the said Freedmen and women out of their share of the crop. If the party so dismissed have a family on the same plantation, the wages due him or her shall be paid by the said T B Ferguson to the family.    
4th Said Freedmen and women agree to take good care of all utensils, tools and implements used on the plantation: also to be kind and gentle to all work animals used for raising the crop: also to pay for any

*[page two]*

injury done to either the animals or farming tools while in their hands, and by reason of their own carelessness or neglect.  
5th They agree to keep their houses and garden plots in a neat and orderly manner, and subject to the inspection of the said T B Ferguson or his Agent at any time.    
6th In cases of sickness among any of the families of the laborers, a nurse shall be furnished from their own members: Also a stockminder and a Trunk minder and no labors so performed shall impair the interest in the crop of the party so employed   
7th The laborers agree to furnish from their own number, a Foreman to be selected by the said T B Ferguson who shall, under his instructions, direct their labors and shall make report to the said T B Ferguson or his agent, of all absences, refusals to work, or disorderly conduct of the said laborers. Laborers so reported by the Foreman shall be informed thereof by the said T B Ferguson or his agent within one week from the date of the report. If the said Foreman so selected and instructed shall knowingly and willingly fail to perform the duties aforesaid, he shall be liable to fines and forfeitures contained in section third.  
8th The said T B Ferguson agrees to furnish each laborer and his family, if he have one, with comfortable quarters on the plantation also one acre of land to each and every house for use of the occupants thereof, and the privilege of getting firewood from some portion of the premises to be indicated by the said T B Ferguson or his agent. and each laborer shall be permitted to raise such an amount of Poultry and hogs as he can keep upon the premises assigned to him, without injury or annoyance to others.  
9th The said T B Ferguson agrees to furnish at his own expense all Animals carts & ploughs and other necessary implements for the working of the said plantation and the said Freedmen and women agree to furnish at their own expense all the other necessary implements for the working of said plantation also all feed for the animals, all seed for the land and to replace and repair all Trunks necessary for the proper drainage of the land, should the Freedmen and women fail promptly to provide themselves with the necessary tools or to perform the necessary duties as stipulated in this section, it shall be the duty of the said T B Ferguson to furnish and provide them therewith and perform the same, The actual cost thereof shall be deducted from their portion of the crop.  
10th Neither party shall sell or use any portion of the crop until after the division of the same without the consent of the other party.  
11th [in pencil:] The crop shall be divided as follows. To T B Ferguson, two thirds of the entire product of the land, when prepared for market. to the Freedmen the remaining one third of seed product when so prepared. [in pen, crossed out with pencil:] The crop shall be divided as follows. To the Freedmen and women one half of the Corn, Potatoes, Peas, Rice and all other products when gathered and prepared for market. also one half of the cotton and cotton seed, when prepared for market. 

*[page three]*

12th The Freedmen and women shall not be compelled to work upon, nor shall there be any deduction of wages made for the following holidays: Fourth of July, Christmas, New Years, National and State Thanksgiving and Fast Days. unless the work desired to be done is a work of necessity of mercy. Only half a days work on Saturdays will be required of female employees who are heads of families.  
13th The said T B. Ferguson or his Agent will keep a book, in which he shall enter all advances in money, provisions, etc. made by him to the laborers, and all forfeitures for lost time, which book shall be recurred as evidence in the same manner as merchants books, are now received in courts of justice. Each Freedman and woman, shall be entitled to a pass book, in which the said T B. Ferguson or his Agent shall make an entry of all advances of money provisions etc. and all fines for absences or delinquences.   14th It shall be the duty of the Freedmen and women to protect the property and premises from depredations, and Trespassers.  
15th The said Employees shall not keep any horses mules or cattle upon the plantation except by the consent of their employer. (Memo) The tasks usually exacted in the Country will be considered fare and equitable. 
In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this day of  
T. B. Ferguson HD. QRS. ASST. COMMISSIONER BUREAU P.F. & A.L. SOUTH CAROLINA CHARLESTON July 7th 1866   
Approved. By order of Brig. Genl. R K Scott Asst. Comm. O.D. Kimman A. A. Genl Bragg  

[illegible] his X mark George (his X mark) Phiol Frank (his X mark) Bengemen full hand John (his X mark) McKay full hand (illegible) (his X mark) Vander Horst (full hand) Peter (his X mark) Vander Horst Adam (his X mark) Marshall Ned (his X mark) Hamilton (illegible) (his X mark) Phiol Phoebe (her X mark) [Beaggall?] Hetty (her X mark) Phiol Hester (her X mark) McKay Hannah (her X mark) Bengemen (half hand) Dennis (his X mark) Cash full hand Judy (her X mark) Vander Horst (full hand) Prince (her X mark) Vander Horst (full hand) Delphine (her X mark) Hamilton (full hand) 

*[page four]*

Aaron (his X mark) Buckrabbit (Half hand) Silly (her X mark) Buckrabbit (full hand) Lott (his X mark) Buckrabbit (half hand) Frank (his X mark) Watson (full hand) James (his X mark) Bing (full hand) } Henrietta (her X mark) Bing (full hand) } Void Grace (her X mark) Brown (full hand) Sophy (her X mark) Simons (half hand) Dorah (her X mark) Phiol (full hand) Spry (her X mark) Broughton (full hand) Hariet (her X mark) Townsend (full hand) Jake (his X mark) McClerence (full hand) Quimby (his X mark) Tailor (full hand) Ralph (his X mark) Townsend (full hand) Isaac (his X mark) Brown (full hand) Peggy (her X mark) Richardson (full hand)

Witness H. S. Hawkins Capt. 6th U.S. Inf. Com'd'g St. Johns Berkley. 

A marriage certificate issued by the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865.

Transcription:

By authority vested in me by the Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees,  
Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, acting in pursuance of the law of Congress Act,   
March 3rd 1865,  
I have united in matrimony  
Mr Peter Thompson [illegible]  
Miss Maria Hall [illegible]  

Done at Gratitude Plantation[?]  
Parish of West Feliciana State of La.,  
this 28th day of January 1867  

E. J. Lewis  
Regt. of  
[illegible] of Freedmen  
for West Feliciana Parish, La.  


A freedman’s work contract, 1865.

Transcription:

Office of the Bureau of Refugees Freedmen for Robeson Co.   
Lumberton Aug 28th 1865  

This instrument witnesseth that Robert McKenzie of Robeson Co agrees to pay Truss B. Hall  
$4.00 per month until 25th day of December next for and in sideration of the said Truss B. Hall  
rendering the Robert McKenzie true and faithful service and obey all lawful commands as he  
use to when a slave.  
Robert McKenzie   
Witnessed and approved Truss B. ^x his mark^ Hall  
James [Sinclair?] agent of Bureau 


An excerpt from the *Semi-annual report on schools for freedom*, 1866. 

The text discusses the beginnings, struggles, and successes of schools for freedmen.

A page from the Emancipation League’s *Facts concerning the freedmen: their capacity and their destiny*, 1863. 

The excerpt includes a survey illustrating the deeply-rooted racist attitudes towards African Americans during the period. 

Questions

1. What conflicts related to the Freedmen’s Bureau does the [1868 Waud engraving](http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-freedmen-s-bureau/sources/106) illustrate? Why is the Freedmen’s Bureau in the center? What do other symbols in the image (the flag, weapons) contribute to the cartoon’s message? 

2. Compare and contrast the characterization of the Freedmen’s Bureau in the  [1868 Waud engraving](http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-freedmen-s-bureau/sources/106) with the characterization in other items in this set.

3. Why do you think Sophie Dunford (discussed in the [letter from the North Carolina Freedmen’s Bureau](http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-freedmen-s-bureau/sources/113)) may have brought her issue to the Freedmen’s Bureau? What advantages does the agency have in negotiating that a single person might not? 

4. Look at the [illustration of marriage](http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-freedmen-s-bureau/sources/109), the [marriage certificate](http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-freedmen-s-bureau/sources/115), the [photo of the school](http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-freedmen-s-bureau/sources/110), the [report on schools](http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-freedmen-s-bureau/sources/117), and the contracts. Now think about the violence described in the [letter to the assistant inspector general](http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-freedmen-s-bureau/sources/111). What is the relationship between expanding opportunities for freedmen after the Civil War and the rise of violence against the freedmen?

5. Look at the items in this set that relate to education. Why do you think that universal education was a top priority for the Freedmen’s Bureau? Explain some reasons that white leaders in the South supported and opposed the education of the freedmen. 

Activity

1. Imagine you are working for the Freedmen’s Bureau representing workers in a [contract negotiation at the Dean Hall Plantation](http://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-freedmen-s-bureau/sources/114). Write a journal entry detailing your experience: What are some important issues you want included in that contract? Why? What kind of problems do you think you might encounter in compromising with the plantation owners?

2. Using all the items in the set, describe in an essay what life might have been like for a former slave, detailing the positives and negatives of newly emancipated life in the Reconstruction South. Describe some of the opportunities and challenges (new and familiar) that freedmen faced after the Civil War. 


Teaching Guide: Exploring the Freedmen’s Bureau

Resources

1. [Freedmen’s Bureau](http://dp.la/item/c3fc2056a6d167cdfbde6c34f668765a), New Georgia Encyclopedia, Digital Library of Georgia, Digital Public Library of America. 

2. [African American Records: The Freedmen's Bureau, 1865-1872](http://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/freedmens-bureau/), The National Archives and Records Administration. 

3. [The Freedmen’s Bureau Project](http://www.discoverfreedmen.org/), FamilySearch International and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Afro­-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS), and the California African American Museum. 

4. [The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow: Freedmen’s Bureau (1865-72)](http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_freed.html), PBS. 

5. [Freedmen’s Bureau](http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/freedmens-bureau), History.com. 


Overview

The Freedmen’s Bureau (also called the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands) was an agency established at the end of the Civil War to help support freed slaves (or freedmen) in the South. The Bureau was established by President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, but faced substantial challenges by both President Andrew Johnson’s administration and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. This collection of documents, images, and readings from the era give an overview of the work done by the Freedmen’s Bureau and the racial and political struggles the agency faced during the Reconstruction Era. 

English

The Freedmen's Bureau

freedmens-bureau_05_ faa96319dd9e01ea357d26fa8d988b08.jpg

Courtesy of the New Georgia Encyclopedia and Hargrett Library via Digital Library of Georgia.

“Liberty County schoolchildren,” Digital Public Library of America, https://dp.la/item/77f50c66d4b5cdd97e15cec5d04a7a47.

A photo of a school in Liberty County, Georgia, circa 1890.

Cite this item

Tips for Students

Item 5 of 13 in the Primary Source Set The Freedmen's Bureau