To those who left slavery and home to find freedom were added those who had found freedom and were now trying to get back home or to get away from the Negro camps and colonies which were breaking up.

A stream of immigration which began to flow to the southwest affected Negroes as far as the Atlantic coast.

In the confusion of moving, families were broken up, and children, wife, or husband were often lost to one another.

The very old people and the young children were often left behind for the former master to care for.
Regiments of Negro soldiers were mustered out in every large town and their numbers were added to the disorderly mass.

Some of the Federal garrisons and Bureau stations were almost overwhelmed by the numbers of blacks who settled down upon them waiting for freedom to bestow its full measure of blessing, and many of the Negroes continued to remain in a demoralized condition until the new year.
The first year of freedom was indeed a year of disease, suffering, and death.