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War Department,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands,
Washington, October 6th, 186 

Colonel O. Brown
Asst. Com'r &c.
Richmond, Va.

Colonel,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 4th inst requesting the consideration of the Commissioner to the alarming condition of the freedmen upon being dispossessed of the lands in Va. now being restored to pardoned rebels.

In reply General Howard directs me to instruct you to use every endeavor to bind by written obligation or consent, the planters who are restored to the possession of their estates, to absorb the excess of labor found in their neighborhood, and to afford employment for the able-bodied

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