ARKANSAS. 



AKMY, UNITED STATES. 



29 



The number of slaves in Arkansas iu 1860, 

 was 111,115. They were generally under the 

 supervision of the Freedmen's Bureau, aided by 

 the commander of the Department, Major-Gen. 

 Reynolds. An inspector of that Bureau re- 

 ported in July, " that in the Little Kock district 

 about four thousand freedmen are employed 

 under orders from the War Department ; that 

 first-class men received from twenty-five to 

 fifty dollars per month, and first-class women 

 from fifteen to eighteen, one-half of which was 

 paid every tvVo months, and the balance at the 

 end of the year ; that two thousand of them 

 were employed by the forty-three lessees of 

 abandoned plantations at these rates ; that very 

 harmonious relations existed between the freed- 

 men and their employers; that the negroes 

 were generally contented ; that the lessees 

 complained that the rate of wages was higher 

 than was paid anywhere else in the Mississippi 

 valley, and so high that their cotton would cost 

 them from twenty to twenty-five cents per 

 pound before being ready for market, and that 

 they would not make any thing on the crop ; 

 that there were about one thousand freedmen 

 at work for citizens of Little Rock ; that large 

 numbers were working for themselves, at re- 

 munerative wages ; that the colored people are 

 building two school-houses in the place ; that 

 there was abundant work for all who were 

 able to labor ; that fair wages were generally 

 paid ; and finally, that the condition of the 

 freed people in Arkansas was probably better 

 than in any other section of the country." 



Great destitution, however, prevailed through- 

 out the State. In the month of May, the Fed- 

 eral Government issued 75,097 rations to 

 refugees, and 46,845 to freedmen. As late as 

 December 9th, the Governor addressed the 

 following letters to two charitable agents, in 

 which he thus stated the extent of the des- 

 titution : 



EXECUTIVE OFFICE, LITTLE EOCK, December 9, 1865. 

 Mrs. If. W. Cobb, Sec, A. IT. Commission : 



DEAR MADAM : Yours of October 27th was received 

 last mail. We feel deeply grateful for the benevolent 

 interest evinced for our suffering population. The 

 desolations of war in our State are beyond descrip- 

 tioji. Suffering and poverty are, perhaps, more gen- 

 eral in this than the other rebel States, from the fact 

 that during the entire war an internal and bloody 

 strife existed between the Union element and their 

 rebel neighbors, resulting in the exile of nearly all 

 the loyal families who could escape, stripped of all 

 their property, and thrown helpless on the charity 

 of the benevolent. A great many of these families 

 have returned, others are striving to get back to 

 their old and once happy homes, ignorant or regard- 

 less of the destitution that will meet them there. 

 Besides the utter desolation that marked the track 

 of war and battle, guerrilla bands and scouting par- 

 ties have pillaged almost every neighborhood north 

 of the Arkansas Kiver, also in the country south of the 

 river, lying near the Indian boundary. It would be 

 safe to say that two-thirds of the counties in the 

 State arc in destitute circumstances, and many will 

 suffer for food and clothing this winter and spring, 

 unless relieved by the noble kindness of the people 

 of the Northern States. 



ISAAC MURPHY, Governor of Arkansas. 



EXECUTIVE OFFICE, LITTLE KOCK, December 9, 1865. 

 Rev. J. H. Leard : 



DEAR SIR : Understanding that you leave in the 

 morning on a mission of charity in behalf of the des- 

 titute in Arkansas, I feel constrained to throw in my 

 mite of encouragement and approbation of your 

 praiseworthy services. 



The confession comes from me with reluctance 

 butj still, come it must that there are thousands 

 suffering in Arkansas for want of food and raiment, 

 and who, unless speedily relieved, will, in many in- 

 stances, during the winter, die from the effects of 

 hunger and cold. These people reside generally in 

 the western part of the State, and are chiefly th& 

 widows and orphans of Union soldiers, or the help- 

 less connections and dependents of the aged and in- 

 firm, who have been reduced by robbery or ex- 

 hausted in means and strength while flying from 

 their enemies. 



By next harvest, with the blessing of God, I trust 

 our people will be able to spare of the first-fruits for 

 a thank-offering and bless the hands reached out to 

 help them. This is designed to be sent by 

 who intends to start for your city in the morning. 

 He is acquainted with the wants of the people, 

 and worthy of all confidence. For full particulars 

 I respectfully refer you to him. 

 With high respects, vours, 



ISAAC MURPHY, Governor of Arkansas. 



An Emigrant Aid Society was formed at the 

 capital to induce white settlers to occupy lands 

 in the State. Arkansas has an area of 52,198 

 square miles, and extends in the great valley 

 of the Mississippi from the line of 33 to 36^ 

 degrees of north latitude, and is adapted alike 

 to agriculture, commerce, and manufacturing. 

 The Mississippi, along the eastern boundary, 

 receives the water of six navigable rivers the 

 land is very fertile and adapted to almost all 

 growths, from the apples and cereals of the 

 Northwest to the cotton which is the great 

 staple in the valleys of the Arkansas, Red, and 

 Ouachita Rivers. Prices range from one to five 

 dollars an acre, many large plantations having 

 been subdivided with a view to sale since the 

 abolition of slavery. There is plenty of wood 

 and timber, oak, cedar, hickory, black walnut 

 and yellow pine ; in short, every material ele- 

 ment of prosperity. 



ARMY, CONFEDERATE. The numbers of 

 the Southern forces in the field were greatly 

 reduced by various causes during the winter of 

 1864-'65, and their final surrender and disap- 

 pearance is described under the title AKMY 

 OPERATIONS. 



ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES. The 

 year 1865, unlike its immediate predecessors, 

 witnessed no new calls to fill up the depleted 

 ranks of the army, but was distinguished rather 

 by the ease and rapidity with which the im- 

 mense hosts, assembled for the overthrow of the 

 'rebellion, were dispersed and merged into the 

 active, industrial life of the country, so soon as 

 the necessity ceased for their continuance in 

 the service. The commencement of the year 

 found the Government busily engaged in re- 

 pairing the losses sustained in the recent bloody 

 campaigns in Virginia and the South, and in 

 preparing for the campaigns of the ensuing 

 spring, which, it was rightly judged, would de- 

 cide the war. The actual available force at 



