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Aug. 19/65.

Genl.
The substance of Col Browns letter is that a regiment be raised of men who have "humanity enough to sympathize with the freedmen in his unfortunate condition" &c and that all of these men be detailed for duty in the State of Va.

All through the South we are suffering on account of troops being mustered out & officers being retired from duty. Some change must soon be made or we will lose half of our agents before their work is commenced. Veteran Reserve Rgts are also being mustered out & if they were not could furnish us but a very small proportion of the men needed.

I think we will yet have to make the local military officers "ex officio" officers of the Bureau. We would in such case have some good men for the duties required - many bad ones.

Another thing. Troops are so surgically scattered through the south. There will be 60.000 or 70.00 in Texas, & perhaps not more than that number in all of the rest of the South. If I was not afraid of the Secy of War I would call on him today & talk about these matters.

Very truly
J.S.F.

P.S. I almost know Mr Stanton will object to the plan