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War Department.
Washington City
December 11th, 1865.

General:
Major General Humphreys has been detailed by this Department for the special purpose of causing such repairs to be made in the levees along the Mississippi River as may be necessary to guard the country from inundation, or damage by overflow of the river. He is authorized to call upon you for a detail of labor of persons under your charge; and upon such requisition being made, you will, to the extent of the power of your Bureau, furnish all needful assistance. You will cause separate accounts to be kept of all supplies furnished to freedmen or other persons belonging to your Bureau, who may be engaged in the work, in order that the actual expense may be capable of being distinguished from all other items of public expenditure. You will issue to your Assistant Commissioner and subordinates, the necessary instructions to carry these directions into effect.
Your Obedient Servant.
(signed) Edwin M. Stanton
Secretary of War

Major General O. O. Howard
Commissioner Bureau of Refugees
Freedmen and Abandoned Lands

(over)

Transcription Notes:
edited: per SI ignore Archives stamp, removed, corrections