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War Department,
BUREAU REFUGEES, FREEDMEN, AND ABANDONED LANDS,
OFFICE OF SOLICITORS,[[crossed out]] 207 Pennsylvania Avenue [[/crossed out]],
Washington, D.C., Jan 24, 1868.

Gen. E. Whittlesey
A.A.A.G. B of R.F. & A.L.
Sir:

The papers in the [[crossed out]] claim [[/crossed out] case of Wm B. Whitehead for damages to his property at Suffolk, Va, while occupied by the Agent of the Bureau, referred to us for opinion, are respectfully returned.

No Executive Department is authorized by law to pay for damages done by officers, soldiers or other agents or servants of the government, either in time of war or peace. Only Congress can give relief in such cases.

It is of no consequence, therefore, whether the damage in question was done before or after April 2d 1866 (which is generally accepted as the date of the close of the war for all purposes).  

See Digest of 2d Comptrollers Decisions p. 24, secs. 158 & 160 p. 61 secs. 410 & 411, p. 29. sec. 193.

If the damage was done in order to procure

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