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War Department,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands,
Washington, July 22nd, 1867.

Mr Fleming Butler,
Yorktown, Va.

Sir:

Your letter of the 12th instant is received. The laws required me to restore the land to Mr. Cook, and after its restoration he has the right to do with it as he chooses. The Government has no further control of it.

Congress has given no department of the government any right or authority to grant private lands to the freed people or others.

Now, since I nor any other officer of the government have power to permit you to live upon lands which have been restored to the owners, I hope you, like men and good citizens will, if you cannot upon fair terms lease of Mr Cook the land you now occupy, make arrangements, before the first of January next, to find a good home elsewhere. I have so much confidence in your ability to take care of yourselves and families that I feel sure you can with a little effort secure a comfortable place where you can readily find work.