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War Department,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands.
Washington, Oct 9 1865.

Brig Genl J. W. Sprague
Asst Commissioner &c

General
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 4th inst commenting upon the suggestions of Genl Reynolds, Comdg Dept of Ark, with reference to the appointment of certain civil Officers of the State Authority as Agents of the Bureau.

Genl Howard directs me to say that he must rely in a great measure upon your judgement in the employment of citizens in the service of the Bureau, and can see no objection in giving the proposed plan a fair test, as at some period the Bureau will have to turn over all its furniture to the civil authority, and it would be better before doing so, to test the spirit in which they will receive and execute them.

He suggest however that in Districts where the plan