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

Major General O. O. Howard
Commissioner Bureau of R.F. and A. L.
Washington DC.

General,
In accordance with your instructions of the 3rd instant, we proceeded to Virginia and visited all the hospitals for Freedman in that State. Generally they were in good condition and were well conducted. The officers in charge appeared to be attentive to their duties, and faithful in the discharge of them.

The Howard General Hospital at Richmond, which is the largest and most important, was in excellent order. That at Norfolk in charge of Dr. Lessing is managed with great economy and care. This Officer is unusually well qualified for the peculiar duties of required of a Surgeon in charge of a hospital of this kind.

We find that a large majority of the patients in hospitals are dependent upon the Government for support from infirmity of age or chronic disease which require little or no medical treatment. Many of them have been

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-11-27 11:47:01 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-11-28 10:39:09 to correct a misspelling in the letterhead