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War Department,
Bureau Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
South Carolina and Georgia,
In the field,
Charleston, S.C., Nov. 30th, 1865.
Maj. Gen. O.O. Howard,
Commissioner, Bureau of Refugees +c
Washington, D.C.
General:
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 21st inst. My instructions are now very clear. 
The freedmen of Edisto and other islands have selected persons to represent them upon the various Boards of Supervisors. I gave no direction in regard to the color of the persons to be selected, as I did not know whether such a course would meet with your approval. It did not occur to me, when you were here, to have your view in this respect. 
Had Mr. Himm, a faithful and excellent gentleman, remained at Edisto, he would have made a good representative. But, with the exception of Mr. Whittemore, Agent of the Bureau, there is not now a resident white man on the island in whom the people have confidence.