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War Department,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands,
Washington, August 24, 1865

To the Assistant Commissioners
Bureau of Refugee Freedmen and Abandoned Lands

Reports have been received that Officers of this Bureau have taken into their possession personal property abandoned by disloyal owners.
The only species of abandoned property on which this Bureau can legally exercise what is abandoned real property - houses, lots, lands, &c as with the rents and profits accruing from there.
In all cases where personal property has been secured it should be returned to the Treasury Department on other authority from which it was obtained.

By order of Maj Genl O O Howard
Commissioner
Wm Fowler
Ass't Sect'y Mil

Asst. Comr. Ala. 

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