US, NARA, Freedmen's Bureau, Officer's Manual - VI, Miscellaneous Provisions



This article contains a transcription of a portion of an officer's manual published by the War Department in 1866. The manual was published "...for the information and government of the Officers of this Bureau." The manual identified the records, forms, reports, etc. bureau agents and other personal were required to create and use in the day to day operations of their offices. Sample images of bureau forms begin on page 29 or image 40.

Article VI - Miscellaneous Provisions : Reports from Assistant Commissioners
Pages 28-I to 28-J

Section I
The following mentioned reports will be forwarded to this Bureau by the Assistant Commissioners of the same as hereinafter mentioned:
 * 1st. Monthly reports of refugees and freedmen, whether they are self-supporting or not, who are in colonies, camps, depots, or hospitals, and on government farms or other lands, under the control of the Assistant Commissioners. These reports will contain statements of the number of persons in each colony, camp, depot, hospital, or on each farm; the number and value of rations that have been furnished to agents, employees, refugees, and freedmen, and of the amount and value of clothing that has been furnished, if any, and whether the same has been obtained by donation or purchase; also of the number of refugees and freedmen who may not be in the colonies, camps, depots, hospitals, or on farms, to whom rations and clothing may have been issued, and the number and value of such rations, and the amount and value of such clothing so issued, and whether such clothing was obtained by donation or purchase. The statistics of colonies, camps, & will be entered on separate lines in these reports. Blank forms for the same will be furnished from this Bureau.&mdash;(See Form 66)
 * The first of these reports that the Assistant Commissioners make must cover the period from the time when they entered upon their duties until the first of the month following the receipt of this circular.
 * 2d. Land Reports.&mdash;There will be forwarded, as soon as practicable, reports of all lands in the possession or under the control of Assistant Commissioners or their agents that are held for the use or benefit of loyal refugees or freedmen, if such reports have not already been made.&mdash;They will contain statements as to whether such lands have been abandoned or confiscated, a brief or general description of each separate piece or tract, with its situation, and the name of the former owner or possessor of the same [emphasis added]. After such reports have been forwarded, monthly reports of changes will be made, containing brief descriptions of any lands gained during the past month, with statement as to how the same were acquired, the situation and names of former owners.
 * These reports will also account for all lands that have been lost since the last reports were made, with statements as to how the same were lost or given up. In column of Remarks will be stated the number of refugees or freedmen on each farm or tract of land, how they are employed, and whether they are self-supporting. (See Form 67)
 * 3d. School Reports.&mdash;Reports will be forwarded, as soon as practicable, of the number of schools, scholars, and teachers at present under the general direction of the Assistant Commissioners of this Bureau in their respective districts, and afterwards monthly reports of changes in the same will be made. (See Form 68.)

Forms
Pages 29-95, 105-114
 * 1) Monthly Summary Statement ... of the receipts and expenditures of public money
 * 2) Report of Persons and Articles employed or hired
 * 3) Monthly Return of Public Animals, Wagons, Harness, or other means of transportation
 * 4) Monthly Report of Forage issued to Horses, Mules, and Oxen in the public service
 * 5) Report of Persons Hired and Employed in the Bureau, who have deceased, deserted, or have been discharged the service with pay due
 * 6) Estimate of Funds, required for the service of the Bureau
 * 7) Account Current of Monies received and expended
 * 8) Abstract A-Abstract of Purchases
 * 9) Voucher for Purchases to Abstract A
 * 10) Abstract B-Abstract of Expenditures
 * 11) Voucher for miscellaneous disbursements
 * 12) Abstract B b-Abstracts of Advances made to officers for disbursement
 * 13) Voucher to Abstract B. Pay receipt
 * 14) Voucher to Abstract B. For cash paid for postage on letters and packages on public service, received and sent
 * 15) Monthly Return of Stores received, issued, and remaining on hand; Quarterly return of Stores received and issued
 * 16) Abstract of Articles Purchased (Abstract D)
 * 17) Voucher to Abstract D. Purchase of wood and hay
 * 18) Abstract E - Articles Received from Officers
 * 19) Voucher to Abstract B. List of Stores delivered
 * 20) Abstract N - Abstract of Articles Received from various sources.
 * 21) Abstract F - Abstract of Fuel Issued
 * 22) Voucher to Abstract F. Requisition for Fuel
 * 23) Abstract G - Abstract of Forage Issued
 * 24) Voucher to Abstract G. Requisition for Forage for Public Horses, Mules, and Oxen
 * 25) Voucher to Abstract G. Requisition for Forage for Private Horses in the service
 * 26) Voucher to Abstract G. Statement of Forage issued to and consumed by the Public Animals
 * 27) Abstract H - Abstract of Straw issued
 * 28) Voucher to Abstract H. Requisition for Straw
 * 29) Abstract I - Abstract of Stationary issued
 * 30) Voucher to Abstract I. Requisition for Stationary
 * 31) Requisition
 * 32) Abstract L - Abstract of Articles Expended, Lost, Destroyed
 * 33) Voucher to Abstract L. List of Stores expended in public service
 * 34) Voucher to Abstract L. List of Articles Lost or Destroyed in the public service
 * 35) UNIDENTIFIED REPORT
 * 36) Abstract M - Abstract of Articles transferred
 * 37) Monthly Return of Clothing, Camp, and Garrison Equipage received and issued
 * 38) [Receipt for Clothing received]
 * 39) Descriptive List of Persons and Articles employed and hired
 * 40) Inventory and Inspection Report [of stores]
 * 41) Quarterly Statements: A-Quarterly Statement of Property; B-Quarterly Statement of Clothing, Camp, and Garrison Equipage; C: Quarterly Statement of Stores
 * 42) Statement of Money received, 42 ½. Return of Moneys collected
 * 43) Requisition for Medical and Hospital Supplies
 * 44) Special Requisition for Supplies of Medicines, etc. necessary medical and hospital supplies Requisition for Medical and Hospital Supplies
 * 45) Account for Medicines,&, purchased
 * 46) Return of Medical Hospital Property
 * 47) Report of Sick and Wounded Refugees and Freedmen
 * 48) Monthly Report of Sick and Wounded
 * 49) Account of Hospital Stores, Furniture, &c., issued
 * 50) Freedmen's Hospital at ... in account with Subsistence Department
 * 51) Account of Clothing, &c., of Patients in Hospital
 * 52) Account of Furniture, Cooking Utensils, Bedding, &c., in use
 * 53) Roll of Attendants employed under Contract in Medical Department
 * 54) Report of Attendants Employed under Contract in Medical Department
 * 55) [Hospital] Register
 * 56) Prescription Book, Diet Book, and Diet Table: Name'''
 * 57) Monthly Statement of the Hospital Fund
 * 58) Return of Commissioned Medical Officers and Physicians employed under contract, serving in the District
 * 59) Monthly Report of Destitute Discharged Soldiers and their Families, who have been treated
 * 60) Contract with a Private Physician
 * 61) Nurse Service Agreement
 * 62) Receipt of Subsistence Stores by destitute persons
 * 63) Abstract of Subsistence Stores received and issued to destitute persons
 * 64) Consolidated Report of Subsistence Stores received and issued to Destitute Persons
 * 65) Report of Transportation
 * 66) Monthly Report of ... to whom rations, clothing, or medicines, are issued, in colonies and camps, at depots and stations, and on Government Farms or lands set apart for their benefit, or in hospitals
 * 67) Monthly Report of [the Assistant Commissioner for the state] ... of Abandoned or Confiscated Lands in his possession
 * 68) District Superintendent's Monthly School Report

Sample Images

 * 66
 * 67
 * 68