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War Department
Bureau Refugees Freedmen &c
Washington D.C. Sept 1. 1865

Maj Genl O.O. Howard
Comr Bureau Refugees Freedmen &c

General
In pursuance of instructions received from you as contained in Special Orders No. 9. dated Washington D.C. June 13th 1865, and which instructions were to the effect "that I should proceed to Memphis, Tenn. Little Rock, Ark. Vicksburg and Natchez Miss. and thoroughly examine into, and report upon, affairs connected with this Bureau, particularly with regard to the disbursing of public money on the part of Agents in Freedmens affairs, I have the honor to respectfully submit for your information the following report.

I first proceeded to Memphis, thence to Little Rock & finally to Vicksburg and Natchez spending about six weeks in making the inspection. I examined minutely the books of account & financial papers in the hands of the Assistant Commissioners of the Bureau and their subordinate officers, and passed the balance of my time in making myself thoroughly acquainted with the administration of Freedmens Affairs throughout the valley of the Mississippi during the period that Col. John Eaton was Superintendent and had general charge of the freedmen, which began early in 1863 and continued until sometime in May 1865, and in ascertaining the true condition of the