letters

Administration of George T. Cook (May-August 1866)

George T. Cook takes some time adjusting to his post in the administration of the Freedmen’s Bureau in Augusta County. In these letters, rations, marriages, the flourishing condition of schools, and taxes, especially those levied for the poor, are all discussed. Of particular note to Cook is the treatment of blacks in the court system. Early in his tenure, Cook notes that some cases “were conducted with impartiality and fairness,” but as more cases are tried, Cook recognizes that blacks cannot receive justice. In the end, Cook believes that the local magistrates are responsible for the unfair treatment of blacks in the court system. He thinks that this is a reflection of the negative attitudes of whites concerning blacks in the area.