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[[preprinted]] 496 [[/preprinted]] Bureau of Refugees Freedmen &c Head Qrs. Asst Commissioner N.C. Raleigh N.C. September 3d 1866 Howard Maj Gen'l O.O. Commissioner &c General I have the honor to report that immediately on the receipt of circular No.10, from your Head Quarters I caused each officer and agent of the Bureau in this State to be notified of its provisions, and directed them to notify the proper civil authorities in the their respective Districts and Sub-Districts. I also forwarded a copy of the circular to his Excellency Gov. Worth requesting him, to give the proper notice all civil officers that could be reached by him. I have heard from but two county officers in relation to the circular above named. The Chairman of the Board of Wardens of the poor for the Cumberland County, of which Fayetteville is the County town, and in which there have been found by a careful system of investigation and inspection and registration to be 330 destitute freed persons, writes as follows, to Captain Justin Hodge Asst. Supt and A.Q.M. It is quite impossible for the County Authorities to make provisions for the large number of indigent colored persons who are shown to be in this county by your recent careful investigation x x x x x x x x x x x x I assure you that the County has done and will continue to do all it can to relieve the sufferings of both white and colored, but without supplies from some source other than the County Treasury, I fear there will be many persons without food and clothing during the coming winter. Brevet Brig. Gen'l Allan Rutherford Supt. of the Southern District writes in reference to Wilmington the County seat of New Hanover County, in which by the System there have been ascertained to be 266 destitute freed persons as follows, "viz: I have had several interviews with the Chairman of the County Commissioners of the Poor and he stated to me positively that they would do nothing for the colored poor under any circumstances". It is but fair to state that both these letters were received before the date of issue of your circular No 10, but they serve in some measure to show the feeling existing in those Counties in reference to the maintenance of the freedmen. Exclusive of the 289 persons in Camps at Salisbury and Charlotte and those on Roanoke Island, where there were at last reports 308 persons receiving rations, but from which points no registers have yet been received the names of 889 freed people appear on the reports on [[end page]] [[start page]] [[preprinted]] 497 [[/preprinted]] file in this office, as being in a condition to absolutely demand assistance during the coming winter. I fear that considerable difficulty will be encountered in getting them properly provided for. In order to reduce the expenditure as far as possible I have ordered the removal to the Orphan Assylum near New Bern of all orphans in the camps west of Raleigh, Salisbury and Charlotte, and contemplate the removal of the Charlotte hospital to Salisbury. This will enable the entire camp of Charlotte to be broken up by Oct. 1st. After that date but few duties will devolve upon the Officers and Agents of the Bureau of this State. The jurisdiction of freedman affairs having been with but one exception turned over to the Civil Authorities, we have to give our attention merely to Pay Bounty claims, to the adjudication of claims for wages made by freedmen under contracts approved or witnessed by Officers or Agents of the Bureau and to the care of inmates of the Hospitals and Orphan Assylums now existing. There were reported during the month of August two cases of outrages by blacks vs. whites, both of which have been taken cognizance of by the courts of the State. During the same time there were reported 1 Case of Rape 1 [[dittos for: Case of]] church burning 1 [[dittos for: Case of]] Arson 2 Murders 2 Cases of assaults with intent to kill 28 Cases of assault and battery, committed by whites on blacks making 35 Cases in all. All of these cases were reported to the Civil authorities and prosecution urged. In a majority of them the alleged offenders have been required to give bonds for appearance at the proper term of the Courts and answer to the charges. The condition of the Schools remains substantially the same as at the date of the last report. They are expected to be reopened in October. There were issued in August 287 rations to Refugees against 45 in July, value - $57.40/100 against $6.71/100 in July. 30675 Rations to Freed-men, against 34955 1/2 in July. Value in August $6135.00 in July $6918.93/100. Sanitary Stores and Clothing C&G. Equipage over
