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Bureau Refugees, Freedmen
Head Qrs. Asst. Com 
Richmond, Va., June 9th 1867.

Respectfully returned to Miss A.B. Francis, inviting attention to endorsement of Bvt: Capt: B.C. Cook. A.S.A. Comr.

O Brown
Bv't Brig: Genl Vols
Asst Comr.
E. & M. 1. V. 5 12. 67 }

No 2 Clay St. June 13th

Respectfully returned to Gen'l O. Brown inviting attention to the following statement.

As stated before, Maria Carter, in company with Mrs. Sally Hardman, an employee of the Bureau, made application at the office for transportation to her Mother in the country, some time near the first of May. By the previous statement; it will also be seen that she went twice to the office, after making the first application, to inquire about it, the last time on the 6th June receiving answer as before stated — as she told me. The place she wished to go to was, Concord Depot Va, and all necessary information was given in the letter carried on application. I am entirely at a loss to understand the connection between said application of Maria Carter and Sally Hardman, for transportation for said Maria to go to her mother at Concord Depot, Va. and an application made by A.B. Francis, on behalf of Eliza Pleasants and children, and other colored people, for transportation from Richmond to Boston, about the 1st May, I think a little earlier — and I know it was before Maria Carter went to the Bureau. Answer came to said application, granting to Eliza, and children, but refusing the others, and that matter was settled, and would never have been referred to by me again, unless my attention had been called to it in this communication. I beg you to believe that I would never send any one to renew an application for anything refused, unless for special reasons not addressed before.

My attention having been requested to the matter of Eliza Pleasants, I will now say that the application of May 1st was not the first one, but several weeks before I had applied for those parties, and after waiting, and inquiring several times, was at last told that the paper was lost, and I must make out another, which was done.

With regard to Maria Carter, you will see that the application was first made a full month before she desired to go; and therefore she might reasonably expect an answer on the 6th June.

I will not trouble you further about her, as, finding it was very desirable for her to go at that time, private charity supplied the means.

I would not have encroached on your valuable time to read this, except that I thought it not right, to leave such mistaken statements uncorrected. I have related facts within my own knowledge, and not spoken "under an impression."

Respectfully presented
A.B. Francis, Teacher N.E.F.U.C.

Some time near the first of May I went to the Freedman's Bureau with Maria Carter, to request transportation for said Maria to go to her mother, at Concord Depot.

Sally Hardman

Transcription Notes:
The body of the document actually begins in the top middle of the page and so was transcribed beginning at that point after the address/respons portion in the upper left portion. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-10-19 12:54:57