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Sub Dist of Opelika B.R.F. & A.L.
Opelika Ala, May 2" 1868

Brvt. Brig. Gen. O.L. Shepherd
Asst Commr State of Ala, 
Montgomery Ala. 
Gen, 
I have the honor to submit the following Gen. Report of Bureau, and Freedmen's affairs for the month ending April 30th 1868 in pursuance of Circular No. 11 Current series
1st Crops
The prospect for crops in this Sub. Dist up to this time is far more flattering than it has been any previous year since the close of war. There seems to be a greater degree of self reliance among a majority of the Freedmen than I have seen since their emancipation - very many of them, I find have learned from stern necessity the importance of saving enough of their wages to live upon while they are making another crop, hoping thereby to become farmers on their own account
2" Destitution
Increased complaints of destitution reach me from different parts of this Sub Dist. principally from the Counties of Lee, Macon and Russell. The black population is very large in those Counties and there are a great many old and infirm among them - many more than I had supposed until I commenced the issue of government rations. From their naturally impoverished condition many of the old