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War Department
Bureau R. F. and A. Lands.
Washington, May 21st, 1867

Respectfully returned to [[?]] Brig. Gen. O. Brown, Asst. Com [[good guess?]] of Va., who is authorized to pay to [[?]] Taylor, $120.91 for wood consumed, and $441.25 for rent in full, up to January 26th, 1867.
By order of 
Major General O. O. Howard
([[?]]] A.P. [[?]] Ketchum.
A. A. A. [[?]]
Reciepts of [[?]] E. Taylor
No. 20. Abstract B., dated June 3rd, 1867.....$78.75
No. 21. _do_,_do_do_.....$362.50
No. 22. _do_,_do_do_.....$120.91
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$562.16
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It will thus appear, that the whole subject in controversy, including all the grounds of complaint down to 26th. Jan. [[?]]1867, and specifically embracing not only rent and damage-but the wood cut and the fish caught, was adjudicated upon in the manner requested by Mr. Taylor, and that the money was paid and accepted.
The order upon which the date, 26th Jan. 1867, as the date of final settlement was fixed, specified, and is quoted by Mr. Taylor, as follows. "This Bureau will not be responsible for rent or for damages done to said firm from this date" - being the above mentioned date...It is therefore submitted, that this order was accepted as part of the contract of settlement.

The occupation by the bureau was therefore finally terminated on Jan. 26th, 1867 -and Mr. Taylor can have no further claim on the same.  If any tenants at will or at sufferance, remain on the premises, they are not [[?]]

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if they ever have been, tenants of the Bureau, as Mr. Taylor insists upon calling them, and he has full rights of possession, also actual possession, as far as the Bureau is concerned.
At the time referred to by Mr. Taylor I visited Norfolk, and in company with his Attorney, Mr. Tazwell [[?]] Taylor, conversed with the leading freedsmen [[?]] living on the farm.  I was then led to believe, that a satisfactory adjustment of the difficulty would be arrived at, if the freedsmen [[?]] would lease the farm from Mr. Taylor.  This was at the time agreed to by them and I considered the matter settled.  Subsequently however, from some evil influence unknown, these freedmen have refused to enter into contracts of lease.  It may be remarked, that while Mr. Taylor in his communications charges the Asst. [[?]], with having been unjust and inimical to him by not forcing the freedmen away, the latter makes precisely the same charge against the Bureay officer in Virginia on accounts of the efforts which have been made to effect their removal. 

In conclusion the present opinion of the Asst. [[?]] may be stated [[?]]s coinciding with that expressed in the letter from Bureau Head Quarters, dated 31st May 1867, as quoted by Mr. Taylor- that the latter "should resort to civil [[?]] for the possession of his property" and that [[?]] have nothing more to do with it.

I am, [[?]] General
Very respectfully
Official Your [[?]] Servt. [[?]]
Garrick Mallory [[?]] [[?]] o. Brown
a.a.a. [[?]] [[?]] [[?]] [[?]] [[?]]
[[?]] Asst. [[?]]

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(2. Vol. 151) [[?]]
Howard [[?]] [[?]] [[?]] July 27th, 1867.
Commissioner,
General,
I have the honor to submit the following