1034

"What Refugees should be sent North...."

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:55.00 USD Estimated At:110.00 - 150.00 USD
 What Refugees should be sent North....
Contemporary clerical copy of letter from H.Q., District of Natchez (Miss.), Feb. 24, 1865, from Brig. Gen. J.W. Davidson, to Surgeon in Charge F.V. Dayton. 1 full p., 7 3/4 x 10. "Official" endorsement in hand of 1st Lt. C.W. Clarke, Actg. Adjt., 63rd U.S. C(olored) I(nfantry). "In the report of the inspection of the sanitary condition of the City of Natchez, now making by the Board of which you are President, I desire you will point out what Refugees should be sent North, and what Contrabands should be sent to the Home Farm...Col. Mitchell, Supt. of Freedmen & Refugees is associated with this Board...." A.L. Mitchell was commander of the famous 63rd Colored Infantry, and Provost Marshal of the Freedmen's Bureau, established to protect the interests and security of newly-freed slaves in Natchez. Although slaves were free in Mississippi by this date, some still referred to them as "contrabands." Descriptive docketing. Several ink blots, else very fine.