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or in the early part of January 1865, so many complaints were made by certain parties with regard to the management of the Freedmen Affairs particularly with regard to the non-receipt of rations & fraud upon the Commissary Department, and general neglect & ill treatment by those whose duty it was to care for and guard the interests of the freed people, that Maj. Genl. Davidson, Commanding the District, appointed a Board of Officers to thoroughly examine into and report as to the truth of these accusations and to fix the responsibility, if possible, upon the guilty parties.
This board was composed of the following Officers:
M. Brayman
Brig. Genl. U.S. Vols.
B.G. Farran
Col. 6th U.S. Cold Arty.
and P.A. Mills
Surgeon 83rd Ohio Infantry.
Lt. Col. A.L. Mitchell, 63d U.S. Infy (colored) assumed charge of the Freedmens Department of the Natchez District on the 20th Sept 1864 - his responsibility dates from that time. The Home Farm was not placed under his control 'till the 11th October having been previously managed by the Treasury Department.
The report of this Board of Officers shows conclusively that their inspection was a searching one. They examined the tri-monthly reports of Col. Mitchell upon which requisitions for rations were based, from Sept. 20th '64 to