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12 white and black have, through the instrumentality of the Bureau been kept from actual suffering is known to all. Though the Bureau was established mainly for the colored race, yet the whites have been largely the recipients of the charities of the government. We leave this people very different from what we found them, then many were without homes, friends, or means of present support - now thousands have secured good and comfortable homes - some farm, some town property - then the country was impoverished, almost bankrupt - now money is reasonably plenty, labor better organized and the means of support within the reach of all who are able and willing to work- then schools for the colored children were unknown - now many are in operation, and thousands of children are daily in attendance. A government has been organized, and is in successful operation, when at the advent of the Bureau chaos reigned. We have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, cared for the sick and ere we take final departure from the scene of our labor hope to see schools within the reach of all. I am General Very Respectfully Your Obedient Servant Edwin Beecher. Bvt Lt Col U.S.V. Asst. Commissioner The following is the report of the Surgeon in Cheif, as named in the foregoing. State of Alabama Bureau Refugees Freedmen & Abandoned Lands Office of Surgeon in Cheif Montgomery Ala Dec 31st 1868 Bvt Lt Col Edwin Beecher U.SV Assistant Commissioner Sir; I have the honor to submit a final report of the operations of the Medical Department of the Bureau for the District of Alabama. My last annual report informed you of the transactions of this department up to and to include the 31st day of August 1868. At that time there were two (2) hospitals in this District, viz one (1) at Garland, and one (1) at Talladega. The hospital 13 at Garland was discontinued by your order on the 31st of October; and its inmates and property transferred to that at Talladega. The destitute and infirm people supported by the Bureau having been concentrated at one place, efforts were early made to induce the authorities of this State to accept their care and maintenance. The result has been that by an Act of the General Assembly of the State, which was approved by the Governor Dec 21 1868, the Freedmen's Hospital at Talladega is made a part of the States Asylum for the Deaf and Blind, under the supervision of Doctor Joseph Johnston; and has therefore ceased to be under the jurisdiction of the Bureau. Tables Nos. 1, 2, and 3, hereto annexed exhibit the number hospitals which have been in operation during the last four (4) months with the number of Surgeons and attendants employed at each; also the number of Refugees and Freedmen who have been under the treatment, and who have died during that period. Table No. 4 shows the whole number of Refugees and Freedmen, so far as can be ascertained from the records of this Office who have been under treatment, and who have died since the regular organization of the Medical Department of the Bureau in this State, which was effected September 1st 1865. A hospital for destitute Refugees and Freedmen was opened in Mobile as early as April 1865 immediately after the surrender of that place to the Federal Troops. That hospital was under the control of Officers of the Army up to September 1st of that year, and the records of this office give me no data concerning its operations previous to that time. It will be observed from Table No. 4. that the total number of Freedmen treated is 17670, of who 1121 have died. This great mortality is mainly due to the epidemic of "Small Pox" which prevailed extensively during the year 1865, and the early part of the year following. It will be remembered that at this time the Freedmen were confined in the larger cities and towns without adequate means of support. They were poorly fed and clothed, and therefore became an easy prey to
