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War Department,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands,
Washington, October 17th 1867.

Major General O.O. Howard
Commissioner Bureau R.F. & A.L.
General :=
I have the honor to submit a brief report of a general inspection of Bureau affairs in Virginia made in accordance with your instructions of the 3rd inst.
I visited Norfolk, Petersburg, Gordonsville, Lynchburg, Appotomax, Farmville, Richmond, Yorktown, Hampton, and Fredericksburg. Generally the affairs of the Bureau are well conducted. Its organization and administration has always been more thorough and effective in this State than in many others. Since the organization of the Military District, more power has been given to your officers as Military Commissioners, which has enabled them to protect the freedmen more readily and with more