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Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and
Abandoned Lands,
Head Quarters Assistant Commissioner,
State of Virginia,
Richmond, Va., 27th May 1867.

Special Order }
No 61. }

[[left margin]]
Maj. Genl. O.O. Howard
Mr E. M. Webber.
[[/left margin]]

I . . Mr. E. M. Webber, Inspector, will proceed, without delay, to Winchester, Va., for the purpose of inspecting affairs connected with the Bureau at that place, the same being completed he will return to these Head Quarters.

[[left margin]]
Maj. Gen'l O.O. Howard
Gen'l. Armstrong
Mr. E. M. Hallett
[[/left margin]]

II . . So far as any jurisdiction of this Bureau extends over it, the property of Mr. E.M. Hallett, (known on the land records of this Bureau as the property of Mr. Smith P. Godwin) consisting of a lot of land, with buildings thereon, situated in the town of Capeville, Northampton County, Va., is restored to him with all the rights and privileges of ownership upon the following conditions, viz:

1st. The property will be restored to E.M. Hallett, upon the expiration of the lease to any third party or parties, if any exists.

2nd. That nothing in this order be construed as entitling him to compensation for damages to the property or to rents which may have accrued. ___

By order of Bvt. Brig. Gen'l O.Brown
Asst. Com'r
Garrick Mallery
A.A.A. Genl

Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and
Abandoned Lands,
Hd. Qrs. Assistant Commissioner,
State of Virginia,
Richmond, Va, 28th. May 1867.

Circular Letter.

[[left margin]]
Maj. Gen'l Howard
and each Officer
of the Bureau,
St. of Va.[[/left margin]]

It is reported that many of the Freedmen of the State will fail to register under the Military Bill through the agency of persons hostile to their exercising the rights of suffrage.

The act to continue in force and to amend "an Act to establish a Bureau for the relief of Freedmen and Refugees," requires the officers of the Bureau to aid the Freedmen "in making the freedom conferred upon them available to themselves and beneficial to the Republic."

It is therefore clearly your duty to counteract, as far as possible, the influence of persons inimical to the Freedmen's registering or voting, and to advise and instruct them in regard to their rights under the above named bill, and the great importance of their exercising these rights. By availing yourselves of the various meetings of the Freedmen and other means at your command of spreading information among them, not one in the State need be uninformed in regard to his right and duty in the matter.

If any Freedmen fail to register, through ignorance, the Bureau officer in charge of the sub-district or division where such failure occurs, will be considered derelict in the performance of his duty.

The opinion expressed in this Letter in regard to the duties of Bureau officers is in accordance with that held by Major General Schofield, commanding this District.

O Brown
Bvt. Brig. Genl Vols.
Asst. Comr
___

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