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as you will see by referring to previous endorsements, that I could not carry either rations or Forage, and yet had to do that duty as an honored officer of the Government, and travel with a government horse, without any means whatever to do it with, and yet obliged to do it, as the enclosed orders will show.

In those neighborhoods, the white residents though passively Civil, could not be depended to, for any assistance towards a traveling agent of the Freedmans Bureau as a general thing and as for those poor starving destitutes on scattered homesteads who were then only trying to plant their first crop in many cases had scarcely anything; in such cases and under the preasure of necessity I had been obliged to pay for my own expences & those of my horse and not until I would travel off away to a white neighborhood, could I even then procure it. This was so in many localities.

My expence altogether was below what extra duty pay would come to, If I would get it, as I thought I would so I incurred no more, and by frugal management I was at the loss of the sum of only about $40 dollars; "but I always thought the Government authority when they see this matter right through will not leave me under this expence," but pay me what you all know is just

I am General,
Very respectfully
Your obt Servt:
Richd. Geo. Ivers
1st Class Private of Ordnance
(late Sergt: Inspector F.B)