_Aug. 3._ The people say, all in good earnest, that the best of the
[cotton] crop (including nine tenths of it) equals and excels the
"Secesh own." There are a few lazy, who have allowed their crop to
grow grassy, and some young ones, who need careful instruction or
severe admonition from the elder ones. But the large majority are
careful, faithful, honest, enthusiastic, and are doing much better for
themselves than they would have for their "obershere." The people
anxiously inquire for cotton sheets to pick in. They are hiring hands
now to pick for them; some of them will be tight pushed to save all
their crop.