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Freedmen Camp
Huntsville Ala June 5th/65

Major Gen O O Howard }
Comr of Freedmen Bureau }

Dear Sir

Being detatched from my Regt 18 Wis by Major Gen W T Sherman as Supt of Freedmen and report to Col R W Barnard Supt of Freedmen of Dept Cumberland, at the time I had Com'd of Cont'd Camp at this place, for the past eighteen months I have been actively laboring in the Freedmen Dept and being nearest to the Tenn River we have had difficulties to contend with that are not experienced farther from the Front and here the prejudices against the Freedmens advancment and elevation is very strong and those in command have acted passive in the matter your first Circular has given us encouragement in carrying out our principle that a man if he eats shall work your 2nd Circular strengthens our hand and cheers our heart that the freedman shall receive the fruit of his labor.  Many masters are coming back and expected to reap the crops put in by their old servants and turn them away to be supported by the Govt, but we have given notice that