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War Department,
BUREAU OF REFUGEES, FREEDMEN, AND ABANDONED LANDS,
Washington, July 13th, 1868.

Brvt. Brig. Genl. O. Brown,
Asst. Commissioner,
Richmond Va.

General:

On the communication of Surgeon DeLamater, dated July 3rd, the following endorsement was put._

"Respectfully returned to Colonel Edwards, Surgeon in chf. It is desirable to throw the burden of supporting the sick dependents upon the civil authorities as early as possible. But the greatest caution will be necessary in making the changes lest a large number be left to suffer and perish. In Virginia there are not yet means provided for the support of paupers, and it would be greatly to the discredit of the Bureau to refuse help to the utterly helpless so long as it has the power to aid them.