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War Department 
[[strikethrough]] BUREAU OF REFUGEES FREEDMEN AND ABANDONED LANDS [[/strikethrough]]
Washington, December29, 1868

Bvt. Brig. Genl. O Brown
Assistant Commissioner
Richmond, Va,

General:

The Commissioner directs me to inform you that a long communication has been received from Dr. E.H. Smith of Richmond setting forth the destitution in that city, which, according to the account given by him is alarming, to use his language "it is appalling to contemplate the bitter hopeless suffering." The writer also states that the "orders to close the Bureau on the first day of January, has unnerved the Assistant Commissioner and the Chief Medical Officer."