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Hampton Va. 20th Nov. 1867
Maj. Gen. B. F. Butler
Dr Sir,
To come to business at once, the object of this communication is to ask for aid for the "destitute Freedmen" of this vicinity. We need clothing, provisions, fuel, medicines, and money to purchase some of the necessaries, such as fuel, provisions
&c &c that cannot be sent from the north. Unless our liberal hearted monied friends of the north open their purses to help to make them comfortable, I am fearful there will be more suffering this winter, than has been any previous winter. From 1862 until Nov. 1865 (as you may know) I was surgeon to the Freedmen in this vicinity. Since then my time has been devoted to them, and what little means I had was used for their comfort. Now that my means are exhausted I feel it my duty to ask for help. I know the people of the north say the Freedmen should be able to take care of themselves. It is true they would be, had they been treated as people should, They really have had no homes. It is true they have been told to settle on such, & such farms & make themselves comfortable homes, with the assurance

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