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we had an old rebel hospital which could be moved and put upon it for about $150.00 and I have authorized this to be done including it in the estimate. At the same time we have got an excellent teacher there and I think the school will soon be permanently self supporting.
At Talladega we have located a lady teacher, sent by the Cleveland Aid Society. Her School was self supporting. She was about to leave with the troops and was waited upon by the Probate Judge and other Citizens who invited her to remain, with full assurance of protection.
At Greenville the rector of the Episcopal Church has made up a list of scholars and employed a teacher. He asked us to help him a while with the rent of a building at $25.00 a Month till he could stand alone, which I agreed to do.
At Gainsville we are in possession of a brick confederate Arsenal on rail road ground - There was a loud call for a school, and a discharged Lieut (55th Ills) and his wife have gone there to open it. Near Tuskegee a good school room near a large col'd population was offered, up at 200 $ Per year and a discharged Union Solder, who, was living near and had the confidence, of the inhabitants, was found to teach it. we have set him to work.
At Eufaula, the colored people had procured a lot and building, this was all, they could do-. we have undertaken to find, them one teacher. The arrival of the Cleveland teachers enabled us to dispense with one of the colored assistants. He has been sent to the colony near here at 20$  a month and one ration. He will teach 45 children who have no other possible resource.
Uniform instructions have been given to all teachers employed by the Bureau. The Bureau simply guarantees their salaries. They are to make a moderate charge wherever it can be properly collected, and we are to pay the difference only- The freedmen are very poor indeed yet it is hoped that when they receive their wages

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from the coming crop, nearly all of these schools will have become desirable self supporting situations. Those which do not we shall try to have assumed by some Northern Aid Society.
If you will consult your Map General you will find that the above embrace the principal strategic points this side of the Mountains. If what has been done meets your approval, it is hoped the work can have further development without proportionate expense. The aggregate of the above expenditures reaches about 1800$ of which 1200$ is for improvements of a permanent orature. I have caused the estimate to be fixed at 2500$ so that we may avail ourselves of further opportunities, and intending a purchase of primary books to meet an urgent demand for distribution.
I have felt the moral liberty to do this as our field of other work is narrowing quite rapidly, and I propose next month to reduce expenditures materially in those departments- meanwhile the money which we have is derived from the sale of captured property which but for the Bureau would hardly have been saved to the Government at all.

I am General,
Very Respectfully
Your Obdt Servant
(Signed) Wager Swayne
Bvt Major General

Office Asst Commissioner
B.R.F. and A.L.
Montgomery Ala May 18th 1866

Rusling  Jas. F. Bvt Brig Gen
Inspector LM Dept
Washington D.C.

General
Your communication of the 9th inst from Charleston S.C. asking certain information in regard to amount of rations issued, amount of population &c in this state is recd. As the preparing as such a report as you desire would cost much time and labor, I have the honor to refer you

Transcription Notes:
James Fowler Rusling