One of the least tapped (and microfilmed) resources are the volumes of letters written by (and for) the newly freed men and women from the Southern States. ¹
A few of these are documented (collected) by the U of MD and were first seen in their documentary series on the "History of Emancipation" (cit.). ²

Contrary to popular belief, both the newly freed and veterans of freedom were not silent on the issue of emancipation or equal rights.

Listen to their words, as revealed in some of these documents...

¹ Carlin, John W. . "Voices of African Americans in Federal Records." Special Issue - Prologue Magazine 1997. 18 Oct 2005.

² "Documents from Freedom: A Documentary History of Emancipation, 1861-1867." Freeedmen and Southern Society Project. University of Maryland. 18 Oct. 2005.