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Fort Monroe, Va. Oct.  65. 

Colonel O. Brown
Asst. Commissioner Freedmen. 

Colonel.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your order of the 23d in regard to depredations committed in wood and lumber in this District. Such complaints and others very similar against the colored people for stealing are of late more common than I have ever known before.  

They come to you oftener than to me, because they know that I have done and am ready to do over again as often as a case can be found,all that your note requires or suggests. To wit, My orders have been for over three years that no standing wood shall be cut without special orders from myself or other officers of the Government over whom I have no control. 

Surgeon McClellan for Hospital used wood the Quarter Master cut more or less. I do not think I have issued an order on an average, for one tree a month. 
 
All Generals commanding here have approved and allowed the Colored people to go on to 

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