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Office, Asst. Supt. R. F. & A. L.
Talladega Ala. May 26. 1866

[[left Margin]] To Major O.D. Kinsman
A.A.G.  R.F. & A.L.
Montgomery
Ala. [[/left Margin]]

Major!
I have the honor to make the following Report, regarding the issuing of Subsistence Supplies to Destitutes. Many people not entitled to the charity of the Government use all means; honorable or dishonorable to obtain Supplies; some women, having able bodied husbands, will subscribe to the oath required in S.O." General Order No 14 Office Asst. Com. R. F. & A. L. Montgomery Ala Sept 15th 1865; Others will send colored persons in their employ [[crossed-out]] to desire [[/crossed out]] to draw Rations, instructing them how to lie; about [[crossed-out]] having [[/crossed out]] their aged crippled parents and scores of children; Others with 2 or 3 grown females in their families will send forth every one of them under an assumed name to tell the most silly tall stories about their poor old mother or father or small orphan children, resorting to tears, if they are about to fail in their object.

I found further that no dependance was to be placed upon some of the Justices of Peace, regarding their reports of Destitutes in their respective Beats; These Gentlemen depend upon the good will and votes of the people for Office, and are afraid to discriminate, believing that the oath taken before them removes all further responsibilities from their shoulders.

I was astonished to see on the part of many who suffer disregard for veracity and truth; but there seems to be no love nor pity for the poor victims of the war; there being too many able to provide for themselves who are eager, regardless of their suffering neighbors, to hear them and of the alms given by the Government. 

I had nearly all the Justices of the Beats in this County/Talladega) as my Office; (some 3 or 4 refusing to see me) and