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my reply to this communication is as follows.

Bureau of R.F. and A.L.
Raleigh April 28th 1866

Maj. Genl. Steedman
General: 
I have the honor to reply to your communication of the 27th inst, that I know of no officer "who is interested in the cultivation of lands within the limits of the Department of North Carolina," in any other way than by furnishing money to pay wages and other expenses. My own interest is as follows. Mr. Horace James of Mass. (formerly Capt. & A.Q.M.) and Mr. Winthrop Tappan of Maine, rent a farm in Pitt County. I agreed to furnish one third of the money to pay expenses, (including rent, wages, &c) on condition that laborers would be paid monthly an average of $10.00, good rations and quarters; and that I should receive an equal share with them in the next profits. Mr. James lives on the farm, and manages the whole business. When I last heard from him he was employing about 140 freedmen and had established two schools for the children. All were doing well and seemed contented. The other officers whom I suppose to be interested in the same way in the cultivation of lands are Bvt Maj. F A. Seely A.Q.M. with a Mr. Potter in Wayne Co. Captain Isaac Rosekrans C.S. with a Mr. Brooks in Pitt Co., Bvt. Major J. C. Mann A.Q.M. with some person farming in Brunswick Co. (name not known)