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You will remember that in your condition as freedmen, education is of the highest importance, and it is hoped that you will avail yourselves, to the utmost, of the opportunities offered you.

In the new career before you, each one must feel the great responsibility that rests upon himself, in shaping the destinies of his race. The special care that the Government now exercises over you as a people, will soon be withdrawn, and you will be left to work and provide for yourselves.

It is then of the greatest importance that you take immediate advantage of the protection and assistance now afforded you to place yourselves in a position in which you can do so. All officers and employees of this Bureau will aid you in doing this. If you are in a location where work is to be obtained at fair wages, it is much better for you to remain than to be looking for something better. You must remember that, owing to the unsettled state of the country, work is scarce, and the chances are against finding constant employment at high wages.

Be quiet, peaceful, law abiding citizens. Be industrious, be frugal and the glory of passing successfully from Slavery to Freedom, will, by the blessing of God, be yours.

O. BROWN
Col. and Assistant Commissioner.
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estimates forwarding them to this office.

O. Brown,
Col & Asst. Com'r.

General Order
No. 1
July 1st 1865

Chaplain P. S. Evans having reported for duty for this Bureau is hereby appointed Acting Asst. Adjutant General

By order of
O. Brown, Col & Asst. Com'r.

Special Orders
No. 12.
July 1st 1865

I. Superintendents in this Bureau, will, as soon as possible, report to these Hd. Qrs. the condition of the Freedmen within their respective districts, as to the following points.

Are they at work, and are they willing to work for their former masters?

Are those who work with their former masters working well or are they working without energy and spirit?

Do their former masters treat them kindly? Do they practically acknowledge their freedom? Do they favor their education? Are they willing that, the Freedmen should settle on their lands at a fair rent?

What is the general effect of the conduct

of their former masters upon the freedmen? Is it such as to inspire confidence or to create distrust? Do those who do not work refuse to work because fair wages are not offered, or because they are disposed to be idle?

II Bvt. Maj. Wm N. Felt. C.S. Vols. having reported for duty in this Bureau under Special Order, No. 288, Par. 16, War Dept. dated at Washington, June 8th 1865, is hereby assigned to duty, at these Hd. Qrs., as Supervising Commissary of this Bureau for the state of Virginia.

By order of
Col. O. Brown,
Asst. Com'r. &c.
P. S. Evans, A.A.A.G.

Special Order,
No. 13
July 3rd 1865

Actg. Staff Surgeon D.W.C. Van Slyck will, without delay, report to Capt. Barnes, Supt. Bureau R.F. & A.L., Petersburg, Va, for the purpose of investigating the sanitary condition of the Freedmen at and in the vicinity of City Point.

By order of O. Brown.
Col. & Asst. Com'r.
P.S. Evans, A.A.A.G.

Transcription Notes:
Entirety of Page 12 is transcribed based on Page 23 of this set of documents. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-16 11:33:24