of the District, and largest rendezvous of colored people, will come first under review.
NEW BERNE.
New Berne contains at present 10,782 negroes, of whom 6,560 reside in the town, 2,798 in a freedmen's village, just across the Trent river, and the remainder (1,424) in the near vicinity of the town. Most of these people are refugees from slavery, not more than one sixth of them having been residents of New Berne before the war. They have followed our various military expeditions on their return to New Berne from the interior, or have stolen in singly, or in squads, from time to time. Every week makes some small addition to the number. The new comers often find relatives in town, who give them shelter until they can obtain employment, and provide themselves with quarters. The able-bodied men mostly enlist. The families of all who enter the army are provided, by orders from headquarters, with government rations, and it is a part of my duty to see that these are duly issued.
The following is the ration for dependent negroes. It is a trifle smaller than the soldiers' ration, embraces fewer articles, and costs at this time but 20 cents, while the soldiers' ration costs 6 cents.
The Ration of Dependents and unemployed Negroes.
10 oz. Pork or Bacon, or 1 lb. Fresh or Salt Beef.
1 lb. Corn Meal, five times a week.
1 lb. Flour or Soft Bread, or 12 oz. Hard Bread, twice a week.
10 lbs. Beans, Peas, or Hominy, 8 lbs. Sugar 2 qts. Vinegar, 8 oz. Candles, 2 lbs. Soap, 2 lbs. Salt, 15 lbs. Potatoes, when practicable, to every 100 rations.
And for women and children, 10 lbs. Coffee (Rye), or 15 oz. Tea, to every 100 rations.
Thirteen hundred and fifty-one members of colored soldiers families are now fed in New Berne, 660 being adults, and 691 children. The full ration, as above given, is issued to adults, and half rations to children under fourteen years of age. In addition to the wives and children of soldiers, I am now supplying
