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71

Office Asst Supt Claim Div. 
New Berne. N.C. Sept 21st 67.

Chur Lt. Col. J.F.
A.A.A.G. Raleigh N.C.

Colonel
I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of the operations of the Claim Division in N.C. from October the 31st 1866 to September 21st 1867.
I am Colonel
Very Respectfully
Your Obedient Servant 
A. Coats 
1st Lieut V.R.C. in charge.


Office Asst Supt Claim Division
New Berne N C Sept 21/67.

Chur Lieut Col J.F.
A.A.A. Gen B.R.F. and A.L.

Colonel.
In compliance with Circular letter dated Headquarters Asst Commissioner State of North Carolina Raleigh N.C. Sept 16th 1867. I have the honor to submit the following report, of the Operations of the Claim Division of the Bureau of R.F. and A.L. in the State of N.C.from the 31st day of October 1866. (the date of last Report) to the 21st day of September 1867
During that period Three hundred and ninety five (395) Claims for arrears of Pay and Bounty have been prepared and forwarded to Washington. Fifty (50) returned
(over)

72.

Claims have been corrected and reforwarded to Washington. Two hundred and forty-five (245) Claims have been collected and the amount Thirty five thousand and ninety six dollars and sixty seven cents. ($35096.67) paid to claimants.
The business of this office has been steadily increasing since the Resolution of Congress approved March 29th 1867. Making the Treasury Certificate issued in settlement of "claims for Arrears of Pay and Bounty due Colored Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, or their legal representatives payable through the Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau"
A Much larger amount of Money would have been collected and paid in August and September if I had been able to attend to the business during the whole of the time, but I was confined to my bed for three weeks with Bilious Fever. I have on hand drafts and checks to the amount of Four thousand two hundred and sixty dollars ready for payment. 
A great difficulty and source of anxiety I have to meet with in this business is in the Identifying of Claimants. Many of them who have had their Claims prosecuted by attorneys have no receipts for their discharge, others come to the office with a Discharge in their hands and apply for their money and it is a difficult matter to guard against false personation. I succeeded in discovering one rascal he came to my Office