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Richmond, Va., July 28th, 1865.

Maj. Genl. O.O. Howard,

Dr. Sr.:
About the tenth of June I presented a petition, strongly recommended by Genl. Gordon, comm'g at Norfolk, to Genl. Ludlow, comm'g District of the Peninsula, praying to have restored to me possession of some vacant lots, in the Town of Hampton, Va. These lots had neither been confiscated nor occupied by the government for any purpose. They were simply in the hands of several negroes, whom it was necessary to dispossess, before I could commence to build, which it was my desire to do as early as possible.

Genl. Ludlow at once gave me possession of them, and gave orders to have them vacated, wherever occupied. While the Genl's orders were being executed, and after I had made all arrangements to commence building, the Freedmen's Beaureau was established, and its chief officer here, Capt. Flagg, annulled the action of Genl. Ludlow in this and all similar cases. This made it necessary for me to make new application, through the beaureau above named, which, accordingly, I did more than four weeks since, having, as ordered, directed my application to the Assistant