Letter from James B. Heyward to William C. Bee seeking a partner in planting Myrtle Grove Plantation. Heyward alludes to an 1854 hurricane that has damaged the long term rice yield at Myrtle Grove but hopes with sufficient capital and his one year of "experience in management under the present system" that a profitable crop of rice could be realized. 4p. November 11, 1866.
Letter from William Henry Heyward at Savannah to James B. Heyward at Combahee. William Heyward has come to the conclusion that the destruction of slave labor will prevent them from ever turning a profit again on the scale seen in the past. He claims that the bargaining power exercised by the freedmen "makes the Planter a slave, far worse than his slave used to be." Because of the scarcity and high price of labor he believes that he and James should sell most of their properties and concentrate all their efforts on a few. 4p. April 17, 1866.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson at Dean Hall Plantation. McBurney writes about supplies for Dean Hall and the best strategy of repairing a dam on one of the mill ponds. He claims that they will be able to get enough labor to keep the mill running but reports difficulty in securing "rice hands." He comments that someone has offered to buy Dean Hall or takeover management after Ferguson's agreement to do so expires. 3p. April 20, 1866.
William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson concerning operations at Dean Hall Plantation. McBurney describes two different kinds of rice he is sending to Dean Hall and suggests that Ferguson plant the better rice "in a field by itself" for next year's seed crop. He is sending more laborers and supplies to Ferguson, remarking that "Bacon is up in price today." 4p. May 28, 1866.
Letter from Thomas B. Ferguson to William Smitts, miller at the Dean Hall Plantation saw mill. Ferguson outlines the rules of employment for the saw hands, their pay (more money for firemen and white hands) and the work whistle system he would like Smitts to use. 3p. June 21, 1866.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson concerning operations at Dean Hall Plantation. McBurney writes that he is sending more mill hands that he contracted in a similar condition as previous laborers. He suggests to Ferguson, however, that instead of charging 75¢ for absences he could take some rations away as punishment and, conversely, up the rations for particularly good service. 2p. May 5, 1866.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson at Dean Hall Plantation. McBurney discusses the recurring problem of obtaining a steady supply of labor for Dean Hall and sends Ferguson several bushels of "Fripp" cotton seed. 6p.
Letter from William McBurney to Thomas B. Ferguson at Dean Hall. McBurney alludes to problems Ferguson is having with the lack of good labor and discusses cotton and rice options for the next planting seasons. 6p.
