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issuing to any one Refugees or Freedmen since which I have no doubt some have died of want. I have made appeals to the leading Associations of the north for aid and am promised supplies for the destitute soon. There are large numbers of Freedmen idle because their people are without work for their food to subsist them and money to pay them and will not reach them before about Christmas, till then they cannot be removed from towns and villages, but I tell them on all occasions that the 1st of January they must all find visible means of support.

Some planters have been unable to determine what to do as the Col'd people have refused to work or make contracts in hopes that lands would be furnished them next year to work. Since I have been visiting different counties and in public speeches have explained the objects and designs of the Bureau as to labor I have urged on all obedience to law to be industrious temperate honest and saving &c. Telling them that honest work is the sturdy road to success. The "contraband Farms" have been carried on in the Dist. over at Decatur Junction under control of late Lieut Harris who has had great