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War Department,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands. 
Washington, Nov'r 30th 1865. 

Circular
No. 20. 

It is reported that in some cases, upon the restoration of lands and tenements, under orders from this Bureau, Refugees and Freedmen have been summarily excluded from their homes, by the owners of the land. Hereafter, Officers and Agents of the Bureau will prevent everything of this kind, and sections 7 and 8 of Circular No. 15, current series, will not be construed as authorizing the restoration of lands and buildings before complete and careful provision is made for the resident refugees & freedmen.
In all cases of doubt on this point, careful reports will be forwarded to this Office, with the opinions of the Assistant Commissioner based on the facts of the case, before any order of restoration is made. 
(signed) O.O. Howard