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3.

notwithstanding their industry and willingness to work there can be no question raised involving the perseverance or self denial of many of these women in behalf of their helpless children, such is the true condition of the indigent freedpeople in Richmond at this time; what their condition will be before the expiration of the winter in the event of the Bureau being withdrawn on January 1st 1868, God only knows. With reference to sick freedpeople in quarters who are under the immediate supervision of Asst Surg. E.H. Smith I would state by way of compliment to that Officer, that he gives better satisfaction to his colored patients than any one of his predecessors; he is untiring in the work of alleviating the sufferings of these people who require medical aid and takes an interest in their welfare that commends itself to all friends of the colored race, He informs me that sickness among the colored people of this city is on the increase caused unquestionably by being deprived of the means to furnish necessaries of life. In the counties of Henrico and Charles City the freedmen are except in a few cases doing comparatively 

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-04-21 12:18:23