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Provost Marshals Office
Smithfield Va. June 12th.
1865

Lieut. Col. T. H. Harris
A. A. G Dist. of East Va.

Colonel,
I would respectfully request authority to issue Rations to persons under the following circumstances.
A person has in his employ an adult colored woman with a number of helpless children, the father of the children either absent or not known; and the person employing the woman is willing to keep the family together and clothe them if the government will assist him in feeding them.
I am of the opinion that arrangements can be made in this way that will be of great advantage to the government, from the fact that in this County the most of the colored persons that will require help, are of this class and cannot be worked to any advantage on a government farm.

I have the honor to be
Your Obt. Servt.

William Bullard
1st Lieut. Provost Marshal
Isle of Wight County.