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They have banded themselves together for protection in cases of sickness and distress. Many of these men are discharged soldiers from the United States service, and when leaving said service they were permitted to retain their arms and equipments, these they still own, and have them in their possession; but that they have banded themselves together for military purposes is a myth, a bubble, which only needs puncturing to show on what a slender foundation such reports exist.

Altogether the affairs of the Bureau are satisfactory and the period is approaching when this protection so timely bestowed on the Freedpeople by Congress can be withdrawn entirely.

They are learning to rely upon themselves and after education shall have diffused itself through the masses, which it is fast doing, this people will make themselves felt and heard, in the