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2

I decided to pass up the Western and Atlantic R. R. to the Rome Ga. Branch, striking into the country by any available means, then from Rome to descend the Coosa River into the heart of the suffering District of Alabama.

In pursuance of this plan the first point visited was Atlanta, Ga. Issues here are made by a civilian agent and to the counties of Fulton and DeKalb, two thousand three hundred (2,300) per diem are issued. So far as time allowed, I visited the homes of the recipients of the recipients of the bounty of the Government, questioned the people and made personal examination of their condition; poor they certainly are, starving they are not, and have not been, neither could I hear of any cases of starvation although the parties questioned in many cases came from the poor counties at a distance, attracted by the issue of rations at Atlanta.

A United States officer is stationed at Atlanta, in charge of a district of ten counties, in only two of which, previously mentioned, are rations issued. This officer, as well as the civilian agent informed me that even after the rations have been delivered to the representatives of the people difficulty was experienced in finding men willing to haul them to the place of consumption, without remuneration in money from the Bureau.

Cobb County Ga. was the next visited. The relief for this county is distributed at Marrietta, at which point I was present at the issue of rations, and from whence I visited and closely examined a large range of country, conversing with the applicants for and recipients of, the supplies donated by the Government, and