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War Department,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
Washington, April 26" 1866.

Bvt Brig Genl O. Brown
Asst Commissioner

General
I am directed by Maj. Genl. Howard to say that Mr S. S. Bradford of Culpepper [[Culpeper]] C.H. makes complaint against Lieut. Chase Supt. of Freedmen, because the latter wrote a letter to the German Relief Association of New York representing that two (2) servants, named Michael and Maria Gurder sent out by the Association and hired by Nov 3. had been treated by him very cruelly. It appears that Lieut. Chase based his letter on what appeared from exparte testimony to be a good prima facie case. He advised the Association to be careful in sending persons to the disloyal states, and inquires what arrangements are made by them in regard to transportation of persons so sent, and whether pay due their labor was to be stopped "To pay their traveling expenses" from New York. He wrote the letter on headed paper, and placed his official title under his name but still asserts that the communication was a personal one, and intended in no wise to be official. This may have been so; There is no proof only exparte testimony forwarded by Mr. B. that it was not so. There is no dispute as to the wording of the letter, but a sweeping denial of its

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