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command, there were at least 300 freed people on the farm. See his letter. 

Now here is abundant foundation for the location on the premises of a large number of freed people on the farm, many of them being families of soldiers (colored) who had gone to the war, leaving those families behind to be cared for by the government.

And Lieut. O Berne, who issued the rations, testifies that 91 families, averaging three each, rec'd. rations.

On the basis of the foregoing evidence, Gen. Howard, himself deciding, made me a liberal allowance of rent, as a just indebtedness of the Bureau, and paid it, terminating only with the cessation of rations from the Bureau.

The principle is the same in both cases - I mean as to rent & fuel - and therefore I ask an allowance for fuel had from my farm by the indigent located on it, and those of the