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Bureau of Ref. Freedmen & A.L. Office Suptdt 7th Dist Va Lynchburg, Va, August 2, 1865 Colonel, In answer to your inquiry by telegraph as to the object of issuing rations to planters to be returned in kind, I would state that by Genl Gregg's order rations of hard bread and pork were issued to planters, having freedmen engaged in putting in crops, and for whom they had no support. These rations were to be returned in kind this fall after crop should be secured. Once planter had one hundred & twenty freedmen, former slaves, and was desirous of retaining all, but had no funds to purchase food for them. To this class, on proper receipts, as a matter of public good, these issues were made, as it secured the only course by which the freedmen could be retained in their old homes and saved from being turned loose upon the Governments. It was to get at the amount of issues in kind that I desired to get records of Genl Greggs Asst Pro Marshalls May responsible planters still desire to draw in king as in the past. Have I authority to make such issues? Very respectfully your obed servt RS. Lacey C Col O. Brown Asst Comr