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prudent, scrupulously honest, but not possesing [[possessing]] sufficient energy and force of character to meet the wants of the service at this point. I recommend that he be relieved by an officer of more energy, who, I have no doubt, can settle matters at this farm without resorting to force and with no difficulty.

The Wise farm continues to be used by this Bureau, but there is no collection of negroes there except the dependents, who are old and infirm, all incapable of supporting themselves. So long as this farm is in the possession of the Bureau there need be no disposition of these people. 

I reached Fortress Monroe on the 14th inst, and made thorough examination into the condition of the freedmen collected there, and a careful inspection of the camps and Colonies. A census of the colored people is now being taken, and will soon be completed. From the relatives already made, it is estimated that there is a colored population of sixty five hundred (6500) in Elizabeth City County. This is mostly aggregated in the immediate vicinity of Hampton.

Upon the Woods farm, Tab farm, Sinclair farm, and Shields farm, and in the town of Hampton, most of the land, upon which the freedmen were settled, has been restored to its owners, and a demand is made for their removal. Some of the land holders are willing to run in small lots to the colored people, and in many instances such leases are made, The Bates' farm, six miles and the Peak farm eight miles,

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-11-10 17:04:54 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-11-11 09:46:58 its not 'Fortres' but 'Fortress' just how they wrote 'ss' at times,