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the sanction of my predecessors, which no more could live up to all such contracts were considered by me to be injurious to the interests of the Freedmen and were therefore annulled" and better ones substituted therefore.  I can with all sincerity say that I am confident that these people will be, as soon as they can get all their children together, and become settled in their domestic affairs, a peaceable, law abiding class of free laborers.  They say "if we can only get through this year, and are treated with any kind of decency by the whites, we can get along well through without government assistance."  

I am at present subsisting (45) forty five persons, being mostly very old men & women and also a few children.  I have been able to meet the demand for medical aid thus far through Asst. Surg. Güsdorf, who was on duty here during the time the troops were here, this channel of supply however is now closed as the Medical stores have been sent to Washington D.C., fortunately few cases of sickness have occurred since this change I have asked for instructions in reference to cases requiring medical treatment, which will doubtless soon arrive.  

I find as a general thing the freedmen of this county possess more than an average amount of intelligence compared with other sections of the state which have come under my observation, and seem to prefer to make their own bargains, which, when I find is not injurious to their interest I  allow them to do in accordance with previous instructions, from your office, many are entering into arrangement to cultivate farms in shares generally from 1/3 to 1/2 of the crop the farmer finding them with house rent