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Office Supt. Refugees &c. 9th Dist.,
Fort Monroe, Va, Nov. 17th 1865.

Col. O. Brown,
Asst. Comr Freedmen's Bureau, State of Va.
Richmond, Va.,

Colonel.

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 15th inst. referring to the unwillingness of the colored people to make contracts, and engagements for labor &c.

The plan of getting the people to look about, and make contracts for themselves, or go back to their former masters, was working well under the impression made by you and General Howard, when here, and your orders.

What this has cost me, you know better than I can tell you. Complaints and charges by wholesale, because of their very great disappointment when they found they could not get lands, nor be indulged and encouraged in idleness, and be supported by the Gov't.

You undoubtedly know something of a Mr. Calvin Pepper, who has been very officious
 

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