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BUREAU OF REFUGEES, FREEDMEN, AND ABANDONED LANDS,
HEAD QUARTERS, SIXTH DISTRICT, VIRGINIA,
Winchester, Va., Nov 3d 1865

Col. O. Brown, Assist Commissioner
Richmond Va

Colonel
I have the honor to report that the condition of the Freedmen in this District is generally good, and that the operations of this Bureau have positively, and by its presence negatively, aided greatly in the attainment of such conditions. The freedmen having learned that they would be protected in the exercise of their unquestionable rights, and the former masters now knowing that [[strikethrough]] that [[/strikethrough]] they may not ill-treat, nor unjustly use them with impunity.

The freedmen have, however, a vague dread of being soon deprived of the assistance now given by this Bureau, and are thus repressed in their aspirations for manhood through fear of being left at the mercy of impeacable neighbors, who now secretly vaunt the terrible things they will do when the "yankees" and (with indescribable swears) the "Freedmens Bureau" are gone.

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