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secured for the benefit of the cultivators, unless, full and just compensation be made for their token and its products, and for their expenditures". -

Circular No. 20 Bur. R.F. & A.L. Washington, Nov. 20th 1865.-" As it reported, that in some cases upon the restoration of land and tenements under orders from this Bureau, Refugees & Freedmen have been summarily excluded from their homes by the owners of the land. Hereafter offering and agents of the Bureau will prevent Everything of This kind, and sections 7 & 8 of circular No. 15, C. S. will not be construed as authorizing the restoration of land and buildings before complete & careful provisions shall be made for the residents Refugees & Freedmen".-
This circular though later in date, than the pardon, of Mr. Taylor than the pardon of Mr. Taylor, only defines more clearly, what was the former duty of the Bureau Officers in the states of Va.,-
The freedmen on the Taylor Farm, at the time of the above pardon, and for a long period thereafter were in large members fugitives from their old homes, wholly destitute, untrained in self dependence, and in the still confused condition of the cavalry, it was hopeless to expect them to support themselves, at the Farm or to ask them to seek their livelihood elsewhere. There can be no doubt of the necessity of retaining the property, which was done, always anticipating a settlement for the rent and damages. 

The exertions of the officers of the Bureau to diminish the excess of the colored population in Norfolk County and their comparative success, are well known at Bureau Hd. Quarters. In particular during the summer of 1866, it was the intention of the then Asst. Comr, in view of the considerable reduction of members, both on the Wise & Taylor Farms, to still farther reduce the member by inducing the removal of all who would return to their former homes, to restore the Taylor Farm to its owner, and to place all the freedmen who had settled there (other than those to whom Mr. Taylor would lease sections of land and those who would accept 

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of transportation) on the Wise farms, which was as is still held by the Bureau. The numerous communications on this subject as well, as the personal inspection of Bvt. Brig. Genl. F. D. Sewall, Actg. Insp. Genl., will show that this was the earnest desire and intention of the Asst Comm., not an illusory or deceitful proposition, as is more than intimated in Mr. Taylor's communications. To carry out this abject transportation was freely given the freedmen were urged and besought to remove for their own benefit and a large amount of labor was expended. The orders quoted by Mr. Taylor of themselves show the above intention & desire. On Sept. 22nd 1866 all of the farm not then in cultivation by Freedmen was restored to Mr. Taylor and at the same time a stringent notice quoted by him, was given to the freedmen as follows: "A reasonable time will be allowed to harvest the crops, after which you must provide yourselves places for your families and remove from the farm or make such arrangements with Mr. Taylor as will be satisfactory to him and you".  

Mr. Taylor also quotes that Capt. W P. Austin V.R.C., then superintendent of the Bureau at Norfolk on 28th Nov. notified him, that he had been instructed to notify (the freedmen on the farm) that transportation would be furnished them, and quarters and rations provided by the Bureau at their former homes, until they could find employment. That they would be required to move on or before December 15th, or military force would be employed to eject them." This notice was not only given in writing but by reading the written notice and by personal visits to every house on the farm on more than one occasion, which visits were made by Capt. Austin & Lieut. Morton Havens V.R.C.- and teams were actually sent to enable any of the people to move with their personal property. It is to be regretted that these efforts accomplished little. The freedmen did not in any large number avail themselves of the liberal offers of the Bureau and did not heed the advice of its officers. One reason for this was stated by Capt. Austin, in this letter of 7th Dec. 1866 to Mr Tazwell Taylor, Attorney for Mr. W. E. Taylor quoted by the letter which set forth that the freedmen did not understand from Mr. Taylor himself.,

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Note: double 'ff' in some words; per abbreviations/spelling guidelines I replaced all with 'ss' ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-01-21 19:00:20 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-01-22 15:15:59