Abandoned Lands referred to the property that was abandoned during the Civil War. Many persons fled their homes to avoid conflict when fighting came into their region. The term "abandoned" lands means simply that the occupants/owners fled and abandoned their homestead. The officials name of the Freedman's Bureau is the Bureau of Refugees Freedmen and Abandoned Lands. In many cases the lands that had been abandoned were returned to their former owners after the war---through the assistance of the Bureau.

[posted 5 Jun 1999]