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will visit Richmond this week

Portsmouth Va
Decr 12th 1865

Col. O Brown
Asst., Com St of Va
Richmond

Colonel

On Capt Wilders return from Washington and Richmond he sent for me about 1/2 past eight at night, to know if I could come to his office in the morning, if not he would come to me that night. I called at his office in the morning. After giving me a glowing description of his trip, and interviews with the various official Dignitaries of the Country. informed me that Gen'l Howard entertained my proposition to colonise one thousand families of Freedmen in Florida favourably, and desired me to come at once to Washington, to give more fully my plans: and that by Gen Howards request he visited at Richmond to consult in the matter and that you wished me to come to Richmond explain my plans, and you would accompany me to [[strikethrough]] Richm [[/strikethrough]] Washington. I could not go at once, & so informed him, he requested me to address Genl. Howard on certain points which I did at once, circumstances not quite expressable give me the impression that I have been duped and that I may appear as putting my plans uncalled for before those that do not desire my advice or assistance, I have just received (confidentially) contents of Capt Wilders letter to you under date of Decr 1st with privilege of conferring with you upon the subject. I herewith enclose a copy of letter sent me under date of Dec 7th introducing me to Gen'l. Howard. If the letter of 1st of Decr to you are the honest convictions of Capt W. is not the one of the 7th Decr a gross and flagrant wrong to the Bureau. If the letter of 7th Decr is

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