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144

A.A.G.

Office Assistant Commissioner
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Montgomery, Ala. Dec 28 1865

Capt. C. Scott
Provost Marshall

Captain:
I welcome you here with copies of the order of the Secty of War in relation to United States stock in possession of citizens. The control of such property in this State is vested in the Asst Coms'r of this Bureau. Will you please refer the case of this horse taken from N.G. Letches to this office for decision.
Very Respectfully,
Your Obt Servt

A.A.G.


Office Assistant Commissioner
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Montgomery Ala. Dec'r 28th 1865

Brvt Maj. Gen. C. R. Woods 
Comd'r Dept Ala

General;
Orders have been issued by some of the Military Commandants in this State giving its Militia officers authority to disarm the Freedmen and under this authority they are oppressing them in rural Counties. Under the pretense of taking their arms they rob and otherwise maltreat them.

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I have the honor to request that you will issue an order directing the Military officers under your command not to give authority for interference by citizens in any way with Freedmen but to refer all such matters to this office or its agents.
Very Respectfully,
Your Obt Servt

Brvt Maj Gen


Office Assistant Commissioner
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Montgomery, Ala, Dec 28 1865

Lt J B Morgan 
Selma, Ala.

Lieut.
The principle to be observed in deciding the ownership of animals abandoned by the army is this:
When the animals were picked up on a plantation by freedmen in the employ of the owners and have him fed and recuperated at the expense of the planter They are his property. 
Where the animals have been picked up at a distance from the place on the public road or on public lands, they are the property of the person who picks them up.
If they have been fed at the expense of the planter he is entitled to remuneration therefor, but the person picking them up is also entitled to remuneration for such use as the animals have been put to.