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War Department
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands.
Washington, Octo. 25th 1865

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

Col. 
Mr. J.E. Vassor, Agent American Track Society, has called at this Bureau, and represents the fearful condition of poverty in which he found the poor of Petersburg. They are suffering, particularly for want of clothing. Would it not be well to devote some of the clothing you refer to in your letter of the 20th inst. to their relief? No matter if it is not quite thick enough for winter weather, it is better than rags - 

I told Mr. Vassor that I would write you, but would not issue instructions, as the whole matter was intrusted to you, and I did not doubt that you would do all in your power to assist the poor in that State. He also spoke of the school house at Petersburg, and that it needs repairing. 

Transcription Notes:
"Intrusted" was misspelled in the letter.