Lieut. Col. EDWARD W. SMITH,
Assistant Adjutant General:
COLONEL: I have the honor to report that, having been verbally
ordered by Lieutenant-General Grant to report temporarily to
Major-General Ord, commanding Department of Virginia, I was assigned to
duty on the 13th day of April, 1865, as president of the Relief
Commission of Richmond. The Government had already been issuing rations
to the starving poor of Richmond, and I was directed to continue the
issue of ration tickets to all in the city who were destitute. The
method of distribution was as follows: The city was divided into thirty
districts, to each of which two visitors were assigned. These visitors
were persons of character and respectability, many of them having also
had long experience in distributing charity to the poor of the city.
Each visitor personally inspected his district, visiting every house and
making lists of all who required food. Tickets were issued according to
the lists, one ration being allowed to each grown person, and half a
ration apiece to children and servants. During the great pressure of the
first few days after the capture of the city rations for seven days were
issued in cases where it seemed likely they would be required. After
this first issue, which was being made when I was detailed as president
of the commission, rations for three days only were issued, under my
orders. There have been four commissaries engaged in the issue. The
total number of rations issued since the capture of the city is 128,132.
These were distributed to 29,118 persons, but doubtless a great portion
of these have received twice, so that probably about 15.000 persons have
been relieved. Of these, 500 were paroled Confederate soldiers. Besides
this issue of provisions, arrangements were made with the
quartermaster's department for the seizure of a lot of coal, 4,000
bushels or more, belonging to the late rebel authorities, and of wood
that had been cut for the same authorities, and the issue of the same on
my order to the poor. No distinction of color or political opinion was
recognized in these distributions. Arrangements have also been made, but
not perfected, with the Christian and Union Commissions to furnish
supplies of a more delicate nature than the ordinary ration to such as
should be certified by visitors of the commission as being either sick
or delicate.
It was considered desirable that there should be an accord between the
Relief Commission and the charitable societies of the North, as
otherwise supplies would in many instances be furnished by both parties
to the same applicants. Two classes of ration tickets have been issued
by <ar97_883> my order. The first, to the large majority of applicants,
entitled the bearer to pork or fish and corn meal; the second, to meat
and flour, sugar and tea. This arrangement has only been in operation
for a day or two. The immense demand suggested its propriety, reducing,
as it does, the expenses of the Government and the labors of the issuing
commisaries. The paroled Confederate prisoners in Richmond, officers and
soldiers, received the destitute ration from the commission, by
direction of the major-general commanding. With but few exceptions
rations for one day only were issued in such instances, the issues being
renewed when necessary. Great difficulty was experienced in preventing
impositions on the Government. Arrangements were made with the
quartermaster's department to furnish labor, food, and shelter to all
colored men, and these were thereafter excluded from receiving supplies
from the commission. Their families were, however, still entitled to
ration tickets. Sewing for 300 women was also supplied by the
quartermaster's department, and these women are, of course, not to be
rationed. The arrangements in regard to them only went into operation on
the 21st instant.
The medical department has furnished necessary medicines for the poor,
and two large Confederate hospitals, the Chimborazo and the Winder, are
now nearly ready to be placed at the disposition of the commission, to
furnish shelter for such of the poor as cannot find it elsewhere. The
provost-marshal's department has given orders for the policing and guard
of these hospitals when turned over by the medical department. The great
necessity existing for a provision of employment for the destitute has
been repeatedly urged on the major-general commanding, who, it is
believed, fully appreciates the circumstances, and at this time is
endeavoring to perfect a plan for supplying work to the poor, both in
town and country, so that the free issue of rations may cease, the
Government be relieved of so great and imperious a charge, and the
danger of creating a class of idle and improvident population be
avoided. In furtherance of this end the fisheries in James River have
been thrown open and the country people invited to bring market wares to
town. Shop keepers and business folk were also informed that they could
prosecute their usual occupations without molestation. Every effort has
been made to reduce the number of issues by the commission, and at the
same time relieve the necessities of all who were absolutely destitute.
The number of rations issued during the last six days is about half that
issued in the six days preceding. A subordinate commission was
established in Manchester, consisting of the trustees of the town, with
Capt. Lawrence F. Larkin, aide-de-camp, as president, reporting to me
and working under a similar system to that established in Richmond. An
issuing commissary was also appointed for Manchester. It is estimated
that nearly one-third of the entire population of Richmond has received
supplies on the tickets issued by this commission since the capture of
the city by the national forces This includes many persons formerly in
good circumstances, and not a few who have been considered absolutely
wealthy, but whom the events of the war have reduced to the alternative
of starvation or acceptance of the charities of the very Government they
had striven to overturn.
The gentlemen who have performed the arduous labors of visiting the
destitute have been zealous and public spirited, and have manifested
every desire not only to relieve the necessities of their towns-men, but
to guard the Government against imposition and fraud. Their labors have
been entirely without remuneration, except the satisfaction <ar97_884>
of doing good. The great difficulties existing in regard to furnishing
employment in a captured and half-burnt city, the danger of fostering
spirit of idle vagabondism, the throngs of negroes recently freed, who
have come from their homes in the country to add to the starving mouths
in town, and the large number of disbanded soldiers, paroled prisoners
of war, who also have flocked to Richmond, all have complicated the
duties of this commission, and obstructed, in some degree, its
operations. It is believed, however, that the pressing wants of this
varied population have been relieved, though of course only temporarily,
the number of recipients of charity greatly reduced, and that it
abundant employment could be offered by the authorities, the number of
those in need of free rations could speedily be reduced to fewer than
before the capture of the city.
I have the honor to be, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
ADAM BADEAU,
Lieutenant-Colonel and President of Relief Commission.
