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Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen & Aban'd Lands.
OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT 1ST DIST.. VA.,
Norfolk, Va.,      186

these matters right, but find he has only (56) Fifty-six men, drummers and all. Now what I am to do, is more than I can tell. It is useless to send these officers into Counties to stem the tide that sets [[strikethrough]] aside [[/strikethrough]] against them, from the civilians without troops to back them.

I cannot answer with certainty for the execution of Bureau orders in these Counties, removed from unless at least (3) Three men can be detailed to act as guards.

I have applied for these but Capt. Perkins does not believe he can detail the men under his command, to go out of Norfolk and Portsmouth.

What course shall I take to enforce my orders in those out of the way places? I could raise three (3) Companies of Colored Troops, just home from the war, who would be subject to my orders, and arm themselves, and serve without pay, under any restrictions the Government might see fit to place them, if they could be permitted to organize: what do you say to that? I will answer for their good behaviour, if the Secretary of War will authorize me to do it, or General Grant either. But troops of some kind

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-08-04 10:26:35 to fix a [?] ps: sounds like he wants the USCT to work for no pay... like slaves. :( ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-08-04 18:41:15