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The report is a success because it demonstrates the troubles of black workers in the South, as they were often forced to sign contracts to work on their former slave owners farms, and then kept the money from it. The judge informs that they will be convicted.

Ap 15 1867

Staunton, Va

Captain

I respectfully forward copy (evidently imperfect) of indenture Punch Fox to John H. Rippitoe. Both parties reside near Staunton. Fox claims that Rippitoe so far from teaching him the trade of "brick mason" hired him out year after year as farm hand and received and kept the whole amount of such hire.

Both in default to teach him the trade of "brick mason" & settlement subsequent to the expiration of apprenticeship Fox claims that Rippetoe has defrauded him.

Can you have the copy enclosed compared with the original on record in Nelson County and the omission between the words "Punch Fox" and "in the craft" &c supplied or correct copy made.

Yr obt servt

Thos. P. Jackson
Asst Supt

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In writing to the Captain, no criminal trials of freedmen have happened since the new executives took over the District.

I have the honor to report that no Criminal Trials involving the rights of Refugees or Freedmen have occurred since my assignment to this District April 3d /67

Through Capt. J. A. McDonnell
Sub. Asst. Comr 9th District

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In a letter from a man named Waldo, he requests that two freedmen be paid, as they have not received what they worked for.

Excerpt: The money ($12 or $14) due [unclear: Hdry] Holland (colored) by the R. R. C. which amt was collected by you while in Richmond last & forwarded by the RRC to your address in Lexington, has not yet been received.

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According to a letter written by James Harden, black people felt an immense amount of desperation towards finding employment. It was so difficult to find work that when a black person named Horner Tines was fired she refused to leave, claiming it was unfair.

Aug. 4, 1867
Dear Sir,
we cant get along without other hands on the farm, all say they will leave if she dont, we dident rent the house to her only hired her by the month her time is out and we have paid her two weeks ago, now she says she wont leave before Christmas, that we have no right to put her out
- James Harden

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The letter shows the confusion when referring to Slave legal cases and whether the White man is in debt to his slave.

May 10th 1867
Craigsville Augusta County Va
Dear Sir,
In answer to your note of the 8th in regard to Henry Alexander [added: claim] against Estate of John P. M. McCutchen Dcd. Said Alexander did apply to Capt. Tukey, Agent Bureau at Staunton for the recovery of money from said McCutchen, and the facts being stated to Capt Tukey by said McC in his lifetime the case was dismissed.

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The report shows how the teacher who was dismissed from her school, fought back against the board for her rehiring which would not have been able to be done before.

March 23, 1867

Staunton, Va.

"I desire to know if you in your official capacity, cannot employ me as a teacher, under the Auspices of the Bureau. If this is impossible, will the Bureau furnish me with a building in which to teach, provided I do it gratuitously?"

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The following report shows Miss Rowell is being brought in as an assistant teacher. Then students come in droves.

Oct. 21, 1867

Harpers Ferry W. Va.

Richmond

Miss Rowell has 96 scholars, 150 entered which number will come in as soon as assistant arrives

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In a school report it was said that a school for black people was needed in Waynesboro, but most teachers didn't really care for it and they didn't have the resources that were needed to put the school in place.

May 21 1868
Waynesboro
Those who might have served as teachers seemed to take little interest in & had to depend on white teachers alone

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This letter shows the good working conditions in Peter Hanger Jr.'s home. He promises the work is easy and lenient and the worker (a cook) will be treated well.

Jan 23d 1868
Waynesboro Va
Dear Sir
I wish to hire a good cook & worker for my family 5 Persons. For a good reliable woman I will give $6 00 Six Dollars per month the year round. I prefer hiring 12 at a time everything is very convenient. Water is 10 steps of the kitchen & the wood always in the House. The Labour is very light any Harty woman can do the work with ease & not employed 2/3 of her time. if you know of such a One or one should call at your office for hire let them know of the situation. I live in 1 mile of Waynesboro depot. You will much oblige me by doing so.
Respectfully Yours

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This document shows that many of the free men in Augusta were able to obtain jobs.

Dec. 31s 1867

Winchester, Va.

General

I have the honor to report that in the 1st Division of this Sub District about fifty able bodied freedmen, for whom employment cannot be found. In the other Divisions the demand for labor is still equal to the supply.

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A Black working man was paid the correct amount by his employer.

Received of Roswell Waldo ASAComr Bureau RF&AL Staunton, Va Dec 1, 1868 -- the sum of four dollars & fifeen cents in full for wages due me from Henry Doom for shucking corn &c

Thomas [added: his X mark] Jones

Witness [illeg.]

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In writing this report, W. Storer How implies that the creation of a lumber mill will bring jobs to the area, which may employ willing black workers.

Augt 7t 1865

Staunton

Colonel

I have the honor to state that there is at this place a portable steam engine of about (10) ten horse power that belonged to the so called Confederate Govt. I am of opinion that it can be put in working order for less than ($100.00) one hundred dollars, and learning that there is at Fort Monroe and Portsmouth a Saw Mill not in use, together with parts of Machinery that would reduce the cost to almost fifty dollars. I propose to set a Saw Mill in operation as by so doing, Lumber that will certainly be needed can be furnished, and employment given to freedmen who will require it. Will you please give the order necessary for the transfer of the Saw Mill &c to me

I am, Colonel
Very Respectfully

W. Storer How, Capt & AQM
Supt 6th Dist Va

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According to a report, Staunton has the most black students in the Valley.  It needs more space for the school, however.

Dec. 17, 1866

Harpers Ferry W. Va.

Chaplain

I have the honor to report that the schools under my charge were generally very prosperous during the month of November. The following places, have each about one hundred different pupils in day and evening schools, viz. Harpers Ferry, Martinsburg, Shepherdstown, and Front Royal. They are all making commendable progress.

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The separation of race in a church, when colored and white people were practicing the same religion

Freedmen's Bureau Records: J. L. Clark to Thomas P. Jackson, July 8, 1867

Clark, the minister of an African Methodist Church in Staunton, makes a statement to Jackson about an unspecified complaint that had been made about his congregation's occupancy of the church building.

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This report is based on a black teacher's unjust removal from her position, which is her cause for writing to the Freedman's Bureau.

March 23rd 1867

Staunton, Va.

Dear Sir,

Feeling that I have been unjustly dealt with in regard to School matters at this place, and hoping you will pardon the liberty I take in thus addressing you upon the subject, I have concluded to submit a plain statement of the facts in the case, for your kind consideration. First then permit me to say that this is my third year in the work, the first two being under the A.M.A. and this, the third, under the Baptist Home Mission Society and I think I can truly say that I have labored as earnestly, and zealously, as perhaps any other teacher, and been as deeply interested in the education of the freed children, as I possibly could have been, and never to my knowledge has there been one word

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of fault found with me until now. And even now the Supt. of the Schools here informs me, that he has no fault whatever to find with me as a teacher. What then, may I ask, have I been guilty of, that should cause my dismissal? - before answering this question however, permit me to state the facts in the case, everything so far as I know, up to the time that Capt. McDonnell came here, was going on smoothly, when I was called upon, in connection with all the rest of the teachers, to state what I knew about Lieut. Cook's conduct while here, and my answers to the questions put to me, necessarily cast some reflections not only upon him, but some of the teachers, and perhaps the general conditions of the Schools - but I only answered such questions as were asked me, volunteering nothing, and leaving out much that I might have said.

Soon after the Capt. left here, I receieved a letter from the [unclear: rooms] at New York saying that Mr. Brackett had informed them, that I could be spared from the Valley and assigning me to Goldsboro N.C. and saying that my transportation would be forwarded in a few days. To this I immediately replied requesting them to withhold my transportation a few days. In the meantime I had a conversation with Mr. Brackett (the Supt.)

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Jackson's report, states that it was difficult for freedmen to receive fair trials and settlements in the cases brought against their employers.

Oct. 31st 1867
Staunton, Va.
I have the honor to report that during the month of October at the several trials in which the rights of Freedmen were involved, equal justice was accorded, but in matters of controversy between Freedmen and their employers it is nearly impossible to exact justice as the employees are too poor to avail themselves of legal process in the courts, and much of the evidence in proof of their accounts is powerless against the book accounts of employers.

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This letter talks about how the civil authorities are going to punish and stop those involved in the KKK.

May 4th 1868

Staunton, Va.

Capt.

I have the honor to call your attention to certain demonstrations made by an organization here known as the "Ku Klux Klan" and which have caused a vast deal of dangerous excitement, especially among the colored population and which if not promptly suppressed will culminate in serious and deplorable disturbances of the public peace.

This Klan made their appearance in the Streets of Staunton about 1 o'clock Sunday morning last, mounted and the Klan being enmasked in white sheets or something of the kind, and being armed caused no little consternation among the colored people and much serious annoyance to the respectable whites. Their operations were attended with the discharge of pistols and

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also by cheers or yelling, which of course occurring as it did almost in the center of the town aroused almost the entire population.

On yesterday I addressed a formal communication to the Mayor upon the subject who has informed me that every effort is being made by the Civil Authorities to ferret out the guilty parties in the matter, who I am assured will be brought to punishment and the operations of the Klan suppressed at once.

The colored people are very much excited upon the subject and but little is needed to bring about a serious state of things here. I would also remark that I have reported the facts to the Military Comr for this Division also.

I am Capt
Your obt Svt

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A report on a case of several beatings of black people telling the Bureau that they are afraid to leave their homes.

December 11th/1867

Staunton Virginia

General,

In compliance with your order December 4th 1867 to report what action was taken in the "four cases of attack with pistols" alluded to in November report under Circular 6, I have the honor to transmit copies of letter addressed by me to James Bumgardner Commonwealth Attorney in reference to cases of Baker Jackson and Wallace, to William Chapman Justice of the Peace in reference to case of Levi Middlebrook and to John M. Huff in reference to case of Mary Minor. On receipt of instructions from Captain John A. McDonnell Sub Assistant Commissioner to refer cases of Wallace &c to county magistrates, I proceeded to Mt. Torrey Furnace some 25 miles from this place, but found Wallace from home. I have however directed his wife to apply to Justice Chapman for a warrant against Ford and Sarah A. Epps, to Justice [unclear: Koiner] for a warrant against Robert [unclear: Loving] Hugh Jackson I could not find.

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In the letter to the Colonel, he heard about a case where a freeman was tried for a criminal case. Even though he didn't confess to the crime he was still convicted of it.

Septr 11th 1865

Staunton, Va

Colonel

I have the honor to report that a young freedman named Robert Carter was tried for an attempt at Larceny by the Hustings Court at Staunton, Va on the 8th of this month.

He was just taken before the Provost Marshall, Capt. J.M. Collins 58th Pa. Vols., to whom he confessed his guilt. He was then turned over to the Civil Authorities for trial. A Counsel was assigned by the Court, Mr. Cochrane, who managed the case with commendable zeal and ability. He contended and I think proved that the confession was not voluntarily made. The other evidence would not convict. The Court thought otherwise, received the confession, convicted and sentenced him to (1) one year in the penitentiary. The case will be sent to Gov. Pierpont for [unclear: revision].

I am &c

W. Storer How
Capt &c