the beginning and no share of the rations, so that the laborers would simply come and go.

First ImpressionsIn the beginning General T. W. Sherman didn't think much of the newly freed slaves. He reported back to Washington:

Treasury Department Takes Over CottonThe Treasury Department responsible for the collection of abandoned property. On Dec. 20. Secretary of Treasury Salmon Chase sent Col. William H. Reynolds, an officer in the 1st Rhode Island Artillery, to Port Royal to collect abandoned cotton, prevent slaves from destroying plantations and gins. There were 883,048 acres of improved land and 33,339 slaves. Shortly thereafter, he sent Edward L. Pierce, well known for his work with freed slaves or contrabands at Fortress Monroe in Virginia, to look into the situation among the thousands of freed slaveswho had been abandoned by their owners or who had escaped into the Union lines. Pierce was to use contraband labor to plant and harvest the 1862 cotton crop to help pay for mounting war costs, including feeding the numerous contrabands (perhaps as many as 16,000) at Port Royal. (See Diary of John Murray Forbes) (First Report of Edward L. Pierce February 1862)

Start of the GideonitesIn 1861 the American Missionary Association and Rev. Mansfield French were making plans for teachers and missionaries to come to the Port Royal area by January 4th, 1862. (See letter from Rev French)Secretary Chaseprepared a way for French to visit Port Royal with an introduction letter to Col. Reynolds. On January 15th Gen. Thomas Sherman wrote letter requesting teachers for the ex-slaves on