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War Department,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands,
Washington, March 17th 1866.

Col. O Brown Asst Com'r
Richmond Va.

Colonel,

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your proposed Circular No 11 C.S. submitted for the consideration of the Commissioner.  He approves the 1st 2d and 4th Paragraphs but does not approve the 3d.

He does not consider it advisable to transfer rations from Bureau and responsible officers, to civilians, and fears that it will be offering a bonus to the Civil Authorities to shift the care of their poor and destitute freedmen, more entirely on the Bureau, than now.  All issues of rations must be considered as merely temporary, and to meet a pressing emergency, and must not by any show of authority be converted into a permanent system of releif.

The idea of the Commissioner is, that just so soon as we can, without suffering, cease the issue of rations, such issues should be stopped.  The Commissioner thinks that the end aimed at by your circular, is that which he has in view, but fears that the means suggested,