Viewing page 217 of 262

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

War Department,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands,
Washington, September 13th 1867,

Circular Letter, 

It is very desirable to reduce the number of your Officers, Agents, and Clerks to the lowest practicable limit. Wherever an Inspector will answer instead of a Local Agent, recommend for discharge the Local Agent and inspect from Head Quarters.

Confer with the District Commander in person or by letter and ascertain whether he can detail officers or suitable enlisted men to replace volunteer officers still retained in service, and report the names of the latter for muster out,

Reduce your Hospitals as fast as it can be done, substituting dispensaries with a view of reducing the number of Agents and officers employed in the medical work.

Many of the officers and Agents have