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War Department, Bureau of Refugees
Freedmen and Abandoned Lands.,
Washington D.C. February 20th 1867.

Major General O O Howard
Commissioner Bureau R. F. & A. L.
Washington D.C.

General,

I have the honor to submit the following report of my inspection and action taken in accordance with your instructions contained in special orders 21., C.S.

I arrived at Richmond Va. on the 11th inst. and communicated with the Assistant Commissioner relative to the best measures to be be adopted of effecting the distribution of the aggregations of freedmen in that state. He had not visited the points where such collections were, and was of the opinion that little more could be done than to furnish transportation to all who could be induced to seek employment elsewhere.

From Richmond, I proceeded to Norfolk. The only large collection of freedpeople in this vicinity is that on the Taylor Farm. There are at present there about one hundred and twenty (120) families, estimated at about six hundred (600) able bodied persons. They support themselves by laboring on the neighboring farms, fishing and cultivating the lands they occupy. No rations are issued to them, and the Bureau exercises little or no supervision over them.

This farm was restored to Mr Taylor in January last. He has not taken possession of it, and declines to do so, until