US, NARA, Freedmen's Bureau, Officer's Manual - V, Subsistence

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


 * Officers' Manual. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and abandoned Land. Washington, D.C., 1866
 * War Department
 * Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands.
 * Washington, D.C., December 1, 1866


 * The following manual is published for the information and government of the Officers of this Bureau, and from and after the date hereof shall be strictly observed as the standing authority upon the matters therein contained.

O.O. Howard, Major Genl. Commissioner

refugees and freedmen. Persons over fourteen years of age are considered adults; persons under fourteen will receive one-half of the ration. two ounces of soft bread or flour, or one pound of hard bread, or one pound and four ounces of corn meal. Army Regulations of 1863, viz. twelve ounces of pork or bacon, or one pound and four ounces of salt or fresh beef; one pound and six ounces of soft bread or flour, or one pound of hard bread, or one pound and four ounces of corn meal; and to every one hundred rations, fifteen pounds of beans or peas, and ten pounds of rice or hominy; ten pounds of green coffee, or eight pounds of roasted ( or roasted and ground) coffee, or one pound and eight ounces of tea; fifteen pounds of sugar short periods often time, not exceeding seven days, signed by an officer or agent of the Bureau, approved by the commanding officer of the post or station, and when practicable, by the Assistant Commissioner. the invoices, and report all deficiencies or excess to the officer from whom the stores were received, and also to the Assistant Commissioner. to destitute refugees and freedmen, will take a receipt from each person or head of family thus supplied, (see Form 62.) the Assistant Commissioner, who will consolidate them, (see Form 64,) and send the consolidated report, with the original receipts, to the Commissioner. (see Form 62)
 * Article V: Subsistence [PP. 27-28]
 * I. The following is the ration established for issue by the Subsistence Department to destitute adult
 * II. Twelve ounces of pork or bacon, or one pound and two ounces of salt or fresh beef; one pound and
 * III. The ration for refugees and freedmen sick in Bureau hospitals will be that established in the Revised
 * IV. Issues of provisions to the classes of persons above mentioned will be made on ration- returns for
 * V. Supplies of subsistence-stores for one month may be drawn, upon proper ration-returns, approval to the Assistant Commissioner, and may be sent to such depots as he may designate for issue in accordance with the provisions of this manual.
 * VI Officers and agents receiving subsistence-supplies for issue will immediately compare the same wit
 * VII. Officers and agents, not serving in the Subsistence Department, making issues of subsistence-store
 * VIII. These receipts will be forwarded with an abstract (see Form 63,) on the last day of each month to
 * IX. When the classes of persons above-named are in part able to subsist themselves, only a portion of the ration will be issued.