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By a Special Order from the Secretary of War all Quarter Masters and Commissaries in this city who have employed "contrabands" during the last two years have reserved from each one to whom they paid over twenty-five dollars per month, the sum of five dollars ($5.) on each monthly payment and the amount then reserved was Known as the [[strikethrough]] y [[/strikethrough]] "Contraband Tax Fund."

When I assumed control of my District there was in the hands of the various Qr. Mr.'s & Com.'s in the Dist. a large amount of money obtained under that order and held awaiting instructions regarding it, - in all there was from ten to twelve thousand dollars. 
 
The President's order published in G.O. 110. A.G.O. W.D. - 1865 covered this money and in conformity with paragraph IX. Circular No. 5 from Bureau Hd. Qrs. I, in writing, notified each Qr. Mr. & Com. Sub. in my Dist. who had any of the said fund on hand that I was the authorized officer to receive the same and that I would soon call upon them for it. 

On doing so a few days since I found that they had received letters from Lt. Col. George W. Balloch informing them that by order of Gen'l Howard they would consider the letters they had received from Capt. Alvord "so far modified" as to cause the transfer of the money to be made to him and not to me.

Transcription Notes:
not sure on when the presidents order was published Unclear: [[G.O. 110. A.G.O. W.D.]] Amended unclear to [[P.O. 110. A.P.O., W.D. - 1865]] assuming "Presidents Order" --> "P.O". Left in brackets because still unclear G.O. = General Order - have been doing this years and never seen "Presidents Order" ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-01-23 14:56:34