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Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, Headquarters, Superintendent Fifth District, Va. Fort Monroe, Va. March 2d -1867 Bvt. Brig. Genl. O. Brown A.A.A. Genl General, I have the honor to report that the number of unemployed freedpeople in this District is gradually diminishing. Many are leaving at Govt expense, and quite as many at their own charges. The camps and colonies of freedmen are breaking up of themselves, are melting away perceptibly. They are a serious disease which will take time to cure; the symptoms are favorable, and a complete cure is only a question of time. The freed people have, after all, shown much more intelligence care & forethought in providing houses for themselves than they usually receive credit for. There are numbers of Negro-Labor-factors or agents about here, who are trying to persuade freedmen to go South & West with them. They have so far failed, which I consider fortunate, since