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Confidential

War Department,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands,
Washington, September 19, 1866.

Maj. Genl Wager Swayne
Asst. Commissioner
Montgomery, Ala.
[[stamp]]THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES[[/stamp]]

General, 

By direction of the commissioner I enclose herewith for your guidance, instructions which Genl. Howard wishes you to follow in the conduct of cases which may come within the jurisdiction of the Bureau. When Bureau Courts have been abolished they will not of course apply, but will be for your guidance at points where they may still exist, or in case it shall become necessary to re-establish them.

The Commissioner desires that you will not allow these instructions to be published as they are for your own guidance and that of your officers in the administration of justice within your department.

Send each officer and agent a copy privately.