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(73) Telegram. July 26, 1865
Howard Maj Genl O. O.
Commissioner &c.

I will have the women and children, willing to go to Texas, ready on 2d of August.

If none can be found willing to go now, will there be accommodation for them?

(Sgd) O. Brown
Col & Asst Comr

Official
J. A. Bates
Bvt Lt Col & A.A.A.G.

(74) July 27 1865
Howard Maj Genl O.O.
Commissioner &c

General,
I have the honor to state that the so called freedmen, if now free, are in this condition by virtue of the proclamation of President Lincoln, dated at Washington D.C. January 1st, 1863.

I would further state, if freed by the before named proclamation, they have been in this condition since that time.

In consideration of these facts, I beg leave to report that nearly three hundred thousand of the persons thus freed in the State of Virginia have been forcibly deprived of their liberty and compelled to labor without remuneration by the citizens of said State for a period of more than two years.

I would further represent that they were unable during this time to prosecute their claims for service thus rendered, in any court under the protection of the Federal Government.

As the claims can now be collected, I would respectfully ask permission to aid, through the Agency of this Bureau, the persons thus deprived of their just wages in the recovery of the same.

Very Respectfully
(Sgd) O. Brown
Col & Asst Comr

Official
J.A. Bates
Bvt Lt Col & A.A.A.G.

(75) July 28, 1865
Howard Maj Genl O.O.
Commissioner &c

General,
I have the honor to forward herewith several applications for the restoration of abandoned property to its owners, (all received in one day)

Please inform me whether it is competent for me to restore property at all, or should I forward all applications for your decision? If any cases are to be left to me to decide, I would respectfully ask your decision on the class forwarded herewith, as they are doubtless a type of nine tenths of the applications that will be received.

If these are given up we shall in six weeks have no property left, except such as is now occupied by the Freedmen and of this all except that which is confiscated will be given up as soon as the crops are removed. That which will remain viz: the confiscated, is very little, not enough to affect sensibly the interests of the Freedmen of the State.

I beg leave in this connection to present a few facts for your consideration. As intimated, the present policy of the Government will leave very little land for the use of the Bureau, and the uncertainty as to what lands will be set apart, renders the prosecution of any definite plan with reference to the Freedmen exceedingly embarassing.

Another serious difficulty which we must soon meet, is that of insufficient employment for the Freedmen. This scarcity of employment is largely due to two causes.

1st Want of Floating Capital with the farmers. Most of the farmers have lost or used up during the war the necessary material for the cultivation of their lands.

Their money has become worthless

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