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War Department,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands,
Washington, Claim Division March 22d 1866.

Bvt Maj Genl. W. Swayne
Asst Commr. B.R.F. & A.L.
State of Alabama.

General,
I am directed by Major Gen'l O. O. Howard, Commissioner &c to inform you that this Bureau will assume the work of collecting Claims of Colored Soldiers and Sailors and their families against the U.S. Govt. for back pay, bounty pensions &c. Samples of the forms necessary in such applications and instructions for preparing them will be sent at the earliest possible moment. You are requested to have Copies printed & distributed amongst the Officers serving under you and to instruct them to receive and prepare all Claims presented and to forward them to this Office. All Claims will be prosecuted free of cost to the Claimant, except for Revenue Stamps and notarial fees. It is desirable that this Intention of the Bureau

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