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compensation for damages to the property, or to rents in which may have accrued.

By order of Col. O. Brown
Asst. Comm'r
Charles H. Coxe, A.A.A.G.


Letter of Instruction }
No. 4 }
August 26th 1865

Supt. of 5th Dist.

Sir:-
I herewith send Circular No. 1, from the Land Department, which you will cause to be posted in the Post Offices and other public places in the counties within your district, in which the land set apart is located.
You will also post a copy of the Circular on each piece of property named therein.
You will, without unnecessary delay, take possession of these lands in the name of the Bureau, and, as soon as possible, report to these Hd. Qrs. all such lands as are now occupied, with the name of the occupant, and under what authority he claims possession, and what rent he is paying.
Notify such occupants that they will not pay rent to any but the authorized agents of the Bureau.
You will also report the number of acres of arable land in each farm, the number of acres of woodland, the character of the soil and timber, and the character and condition of the buildings. You will also ascertain the smallest number of acres of the arable land on each farm that will yield a support to an average family, (say of five (5) persons) of Freedmen.
If farms are located in a neighborhood, where employment for freedmen can be found, you will note this fact, stating the nature of the employment and the ordinary rate of compensation therefor.
It will be necessary to select such farms as are best adapted to the purpose, as homes for the aged and helpless within your district, - such farms to be conducted on the same plan as the "poor farms" of the North.

Very respectfully &c.
By command of Col. O. Brown
Charles H. Coxe A.A.A.G.

(The above letter addressed also, 28th Aug. to Supts. 1st & 9th Dist's)
28th August 1865


Special Orders }
No. 41 }

I.  So far as any jurisdiction of this Bureau extends over it, the property of P. Burkhardt situated in Harper's Ferry, Va. is restored to him with all the rights and privileges of ownership subject to the requirements of Circular No. 3, War Dept. 

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-11 11:42:52 the word "compensation" will be transcribed in full at the end of page 38, as well as at the beginning of this page 39 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-12 19:41:45