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B. 270. R.F. & A.L. Va. 2d V. 1867.
B 87. R F. & A.L. Vol 9. 1867.

Fincastle Virginia April 2nd 1867.

Genl O. O. Howard

Having learned that Congress has authorized the Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau to use $1,000,000 of the regular appropriations for its support for the destitute of the South, I hope you will pardon me for the liberty I have taken in addressing you as Commissioner, in behalf of myself, and orphaned little ones. I suppose you are e'er this wearied at the repetition of the suffering and destitution of the Southern people, and my case is that of thousands of other's in our stricken Country. You at the North can never imagine our destitution, altho' you have seen it to some extent in your travels through it.

I was left during the war with four little girls. the eldest only 6 years old. the youngest a babe, without any means of support. I have tried in vain, until recently to procure any work and as there are so many in my situation, that when divided

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-10-11 13:05:35 Pls read instructions to ignore indents, other corrections, if writer wrote '&' for 'and' pls transcribe as '&' ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-10-11 14:27:59 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-10-11 15:48:05 changed "ever" to "e're" old-fashioned + literary : preceding in time : earlier than : BEFORE e ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-10-12 19:18:49