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6       FREEDMEN'S AFFAIRS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE.

LOUISVILLE, February 16, 1868.

Respectfully forwarded to Major General O. O. Howard, Commissioner, &c., Washington, D. C., for his information, the first and third recommendations approved.

S. BURBANK,
Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., Ass't Com'r, Ky.

Official copy:
E. WHITTLESEY, A. A. A. G.

BUREAU REFUGEES, FREEDMEN, AND ABANDONED LANDS, 
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE,
Louisville, Kentucky, March 13, 1868.

GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following synopsis of the operation of this bureau for the month of February, 1868:

ABANDONED AND CONFISCATED PROPERTY.
None in possession of the bureau in this State.

BOUNTIES.

Under this head I desire specially to invite your attention to the fact that bitter complaints are made by colored soldiers that they have been defrauded out of their bounty by claim agents, who pay them a part of their bounty after they (the claim agents) have received the treasury certificate, and take their receipt for the whole amount. I am not able to prove this charge against any particular man, but I believe the charge. In my capacity as disbursing officer it is continually brought to my notice, and I would respectfully urge that your suggestion contained in letter to General A. P. Howe, of claim division, be again brought before the Commissioner. No advances of money should be made to these people; there is too much danger of their being cheated. If these claim agents loan money to the freedmen without gaining largely thereby, I am very much mistaken. At all events, it is best to be on the safe side.

CLOTHING.

The following is a list of clothing issued to the destitute freedmen in Kentucky during the month:

Fifty-one pairs trowsers, 37 blouses, 31 pairs drawers, 74 pairs men's brogans, 8 great coats, 13 blankets, 30 men's hats, 50 pairs women's shoes, 40 pairs women's hose, 26 pairs stockings, 25 men's wool shirts, 17 women's shirts, 2 children's shirts, 16 women's hoods, 7 boys' hats, 27 pairs children's shoes, 388 yards linsey, 100 yards flannel, 173 yards brown shirting, 16 women's shawls.

A large number of the shoes received were found to be too small, and cannot therefore be used. There is a sufficient supply of clothing on hand to provide for the present necessities of the freedmen.

CAPITATION TAX.

No action has been taken by the legislature of Kentucky in this matter.

CONTRACTS.

The number of contracts made during the month by the officers of this bureau was 111. Number of male persons contracted with, 87; number of female persons contracted with, 30; total, 117.