The first trial of free labor of blacks on a large scale in a slave State was made in Port Royal.[18] The experiment was generally successful.

By industry, thrift and orderly conduct the Negroes showed their appreciation for their new opportunities.

In the Mississippi section invaded by the northern army, General Thomas opened what he called _Infirmary Farms_ which he leased to Negroes on certain terms which they usually met successfully.

The same plan, however, was not so successful in the Lower Mississippi section.[19] The failure in this section was doubtless due to the inferior type of blacks in the lower cotton belt where Negroes had been more brutalized by slavery.
In some cases, these refugees experienced many hardships.

It was charged that they were worked hard, badly treated and deprived of all their wages except what was given them for rations and a scanty pittance, wholly insufficient to purchase necessary clothing and provide for their families.[20] Not a few of the refugees for these reasons applied for permission to return to their masters and sometimes such permission was granted; for, although under military authority, they were by order of Congress to be considered as freemen.