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

Bvt Brig Gen O.L. Shepherd
Asst Commr State of Ala
Montgomery Ala.

Gen'l:

I have the honor to submit the following General 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 the war There seems to be a greater degree of self reliance among a majority of the Freedmen than I have noticed since their emancipation- very many I find have learned from the 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.

2nd 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