American Union Commission report

In October 1865 the American Union Commission, “organized to aid in the restoration of the Union upon the basis of freedom, industry, education, and Christian morality,” published a report of its work helping destitute Southerners. It is a 33 page document that covers the commission’s work in several Southern states – and in New York City. Here are a few cut-outs with a focus on the refugees who spent a short time in Gotham. The report begins with a complimentary letter from General O.O. Howard, leader of the Freedmen’s Bureau. Another well-known Civil War general also wrote a note:

Burnside to Commission (preface)

big fans of the Commission

Commission’s General Secretary Lyman Abbott

approved by Andrew and Abraham (page 1)

“Union refugees” (Library of Congress)

“Refugees leaving the old homestead ” (Library of Congress)

refugees (page 1)

refugees and relief (page 2)

education (page 4)

that Sherman swath in blue

“Atlanta, Ga. Boxcars with refugees at railroad depot” (Fall 1864, Library of Congress)

NYC (page 17)

refugees temporarily in NYC (page 18)

“Arrival of Union refugees at Kingston, Georgia” (Library of Congress)

The above image was published in the December 10, 1864 issue of Harper’s Weekly at Son of the South, where you can also read some background:

UNION REFUGEES.

WE give on our first page an illustration representing UNION REFUGEES AT KINGSTON, GEORGIA, on their way North. The number of these arrivals is daily increasing. Since SHERMAN with the main body of his army advanced southward, abandoning Northern Georgia, this region has become one not very safe and pleasant to those who have by the presence of our army been emboldened to declare their preference for the old Union. The Richmond journals dwell upon the departure of these loyalists with peculiar satisfaction, on the ground that it diminishes that opposition in Georgia which has always been an element of danger to the Confederacy.

150 years ago today Alexander H. Stephens observed Georgia’s desolation (from an addendum to his prison diary page 539):

AHS 10-25-1865 (Page 529)

It appears that the Commission joined into The Freedmen’s Union Commission by May 1866.

Images from the Library of Congress: Ambrose and Abe; Union Refugees; Refugees leaving the old homestead (the back of card talks about Unionist families being persecuted by rebels and bushwhackers); map; leaving Atlanta; at Kinston.

The image of General Secretary Lyman Abbott comes from a book about Brooklyn’s Plymouth Church at Project Gutenberg