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Wilder - Capt. C. B.
Supt. 9th Dist.
Fort Monroe, Va.
August 31st 1865
(one enclosure)
2.B.254
Inquires, if, by abandoned personal property is meant such property as stock, tools furniture wood &c left upon the farm and taken in charge by order of the Secretary of War during the last three years and now scattered in the hands of the colored people; or whether is meant only such property as was taken up by the Treasury Dept and came into the hands of the Dept of Negro Affairs.
Asks also what is meant by "other authority" than the "Treasury Dept"
Recd Hd. Qrs. Asst. Commr. 9/2/65

Hd. Qrs. Asst. Commr.
State of Va.
Richmond, Va September 2nd 1865
Respectfully forwarded to Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard.
In many instances, wood, lumber and clothing have been received from the military authorities or taken possession of by officers of the Bureau under such authority for the use of the Freedmen.
In cases where abandoned lands were taken under military orders for the use of the Freedmen, the personal property found thereon was taken, and as Capt. Wilder states "is very much scattered", notwithstanding efforts made by 
officers to keep it together.  My instructions to officers have been to aid all persons, that have had their property restored, in finding their personal property and to restore all that could be found.  
I would respectfully ask whether the order herein enclosed is meant to cover such articles as wood, clothing, lumber, farming tools &c.
O Brown
Col & Asst. Commr.

L.R. W. 25 - E.B. 76.