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. 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

'''REPORTS FROM ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER [P. 28 -I to 28-J)''' colonies, camps, depots, or hospitals, and on government farms or other lands, under the control of th1 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. - (See Form 66)
 * 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

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.

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. - They will contain statement~ 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. 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.
 * 2d. Land Reports. There will be forwarded, as soon as practicable, reports of all lands in the possession

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)

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)
 * 3d. School Reports. Reports will be forwarded, as soon as practicable, of the number of schools,


 * Forms:
 * Form 1: Monthly Summary Statement. ... of the receipts and expenditures of public money during the month

by the assistant commissioner. Fields: Running numbers; No. of each class; Names of persons and articles; Description and occupation; Service during the month; Rate of hire or compensation; Date of contract, agreement or entry into service; By Whom owned; Amount of rent or pay in the month; Remarks showing by whom the buildings were occupied, and for what purpose, and how the vessels an men were employed during the month; Time and amount due and remaining unpaid. [p.14,30-31] Lands at_, who have deceased, deserted, or have been discharged the service with pay due during the month of_, 186, by __ . Fields: No.; Names; Rate of Pay or Hire; Time For, and Amount Remaining Unpaid; Remarks 186 __ by __. Bureau Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, by_, of __, during the month of __ , 186. Da.--- Fund by _ at_, during the month of_, 186 Da. Ca month ending on the __ of_, by __. Fields: Date: Classes (From Whom Purchased); Fuel; Forage; Straw; Stationary. Purchase; For_; Dollars; Cents ending on the __ of __, 186_.''' Fields: Date of Payment; No. of Voucher; To whom paid; On what account; Amount. by_, in the month ending the_, 186. Fields: Date of the advance; No of the receipt or voucher; To What Officer; By Whose order or for what purpose; Amount. the sum opposite to our names respectively, being in full of our pay for the period herein expressed, having signed duplicate hereof. Fields: Date; No.; Name; Occupation; Period of Service; Rate of Pay; Amount Pay; Amount Received; Signer's Name; Witness; Remarks. 186_, by __. service of __ for __ days, commencing the __ of __ 186_, and ending on the ___ of 186_, at --- at __, for __ days, commencing the __ of_and ending the ___ of ___ 186 under my direction at __, during the month of __ , 186 __. __, 186--- 186, by ___. To Whom Issued. commencing on the __ of __, and ending on the __ 0f __ 186 __ articles. By Whom Made. on abstract "M",: Fields: Date: No of Invoice; To Whom Transferred month of_, 186 __, by __ Fields: When Received; No of Invoice; Of Whom received; .... clothing set opposite our respective names. Fields: Date of issue; Name Department; B: Quarterly Statement of Clothing, Camp, and Garrison Equipage ... ; C: Quarterly Statement of Stores pertaining ... the weekly report, on the last day of the week, on the following Monday the consolidated weekly report to the Chief Medical Officer of the Bureau. Report of Sick and Wounded Refugees and Freedmen in ... Name of writer, Station received the amounts of Subsistence Stores set opposite our respective names. Fields: Date of Issue; Station; Name of Person or Head of Family; Commencing; Ending; Days: No.; No. in Family: Adults/Children/Total; Class: White/Colored To be signed by the officer or agent making the issue, entered on Abstract State of .... By .... During the month of .... 186 ... Fields: Date; From Whom Received; Class: White/Colored State of ... by ... Assistant Commissioner, for the month of .... 186 ... Fields: Date; No. of Vouchers; By Whom Received; Class: White/Colored ending __ 186_, by approved orders. Fields: Date of issue; No of Order; Name of Article; From; Destination; Class. Abandoned Lands, for the State of ... of the number 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 in the State of ... for the month ending on the ... day of .... 186 ...''' [p.112 sample form] Station homeless, too young or too old to labor, and those permanently disabled, and those temporarily sheltered and fed. Commissioner. Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, for the State of.. .. of Abandoned or Confiscated Lands in his the month of... 186 ..., ... District, State of ...''' [p.114 form]
 * Form 2: Report of persons and articles hired or employed during the month. ... and must be approved
 * Form 3: Monthly Return of public animals, wagons, harness, or other means of transportation in the possession of each officer.
 * Form 4: Monthly Report of forage issued during the month to horses, mules, and oxen in the public service. To Whom Issued
 * Form 5: Report of Persons Hired and Employed in the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned
 * Form 6: Estimate of Funds, required for the service of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, at in the month of ___
 * Form 7: Account Current of Monies received and expended under the appropriation for support of
 * Form 7: Account Current of Monies received and expended on account of Refugees, and Freedmen's
 * Form 8: (Abstract A) Abstract of Purchases on account of Bureau R.F. and A. L., paid for at__, in the
 * Form 9: (Voucher for Purchases to Abstract A) The United States To. Do. · Date of --~ --~ 'J
 * Form 10: (ABSTRACT B) Abstract of Expenditures on Account of __, by __ , at __ , in the month
 * Form 11: (Voucher.) The United States, To--~ Da . ___ Fields: Date; [Description]; Dollars; Cent!
 * Form 12: (Abstract B b,) Abstracts of Advances made to officers for disbursement on account of the
 * Form 13: (Voucher to ABSTRACT B) We, the subscribers, do hereby acknowledge to have received of ...
 * Form 14: (Voucher to Abstract B) For cash paid for postage on letters and packages on public service, received and sent by him from the __    of_, 186, to the_of_,186, inclusive __ _
 * Form 15: Monthly Return of __ Stores received and issued at __ By __ Abstracts D, E, N, p.8,10 Form 16: Abstract "D" Abstract of Articles    Purchased. Property Returns, intended to comprise all supplies purchased, whether paid or not. From Whom Purchased.
 *  Form 16: Abstract of Articles Purchased. Property Returns, intended to comprise all supplies purchased, whether paid or not. "From Whom Purchased.
 * Form 17: Officer issuing the certified accounts keep duplicates of the same ..., one of which will accompany abstract "D" of the property return.
 * Form 18: Abstract E. Abstract of Articles Received from Officers. Property received from officers by invoice
 * Form 19: Voucher to Abstract B List of Stores & pertaining to Bureau. From Whom Received
 * Form 20: Abstract "N" Abstract of Articles Received from various sources.
 * Form 21: Abstract " F" Abstract of Fuel Issued. To Whom Issued. All fuel issued will be entered
 * Form 22: (Voucher to Abstract F) Requisition for Fuel for ... which requires the approval of the Assistant Commissioner.
 * Form 23: (Abstract G) Abstract of Forage Issued at __ _, in the month ending on the __ of __ 186_, by__.  To Whom Issued
 * Form 24: (Voucher to Abstract G) Requisition for Forage for Public Horses, Mules, and Oxen, in the
 * Form 25: (Voucher to Abstract G) Requisition for Forage for __ Private Horses in the service of __
 * Form 26: (Voucher to Abstract G) Statement of Forage issued to and consumed by the Public Animals
 * Form 27: (Abstract H) Abstract of Straw issued at_____, in the month ending on the __ of __, 186-,  To Whom Issued.
 * Form 28: (Voucher to Abstract H) Requisition for Straw for_, commanded by __ for the month of
 * Form 29: (Abstract I) Abstract of Stationary issued at __, in the month ending on the __ of __ ,
 * Form 30: (Voucher to Abstract I) Requisition for Stationary for __, stationed at __ for the __ ,
 * Form 31: (Requisitions). Date, For
 * Form 32: Abstract "L" comprises articles expended, lost, destroyed, & etc. and animals that have died while in public service embracing all
 * Form 33:
 * Form 34:
 * Form 35:
 * Form 36: Abstract "M" Fuel transferred to other officers to be accounted for by them, should be enterec
 * Form 37: Monthly Return of Clothing, Camp, and Garrison Equipage received and Issued at __, in the
 * Form 38: We, the undersigned do hereby acknowledge to have received of __ the several articles of
 * Form 39: Descriptive List of Persons and Articles employed and hired ... Articles and Names of Persons
 * Form 40: Inventory and Inspection Report ... is responsible, and which has been inspected and reported by
 * Form 41: Form of Quarterly Statements: A: Quarterly Statement of Property Quartermasters
 * Form 42: Statement of Money received on account of Refugees and Freedmen ... Date, From whom Received
 * Form 42 ½: Return of Money collected on account of Refugees and Freedmen's Fund .... Date, From Whom Collected
 * Form 43: Requisitions for necessary medical and hospital supplies Requisition for Medical and Hospital Supplies
 * Form 44: Purchased medical supplies procured by the Chief Disbursing Officer of the Bureau on special requisition. Special Requisition for Supplies of Medicines, etc.
 * Form 45: Requisition to be approved by the Assistant Commissioner. Account for Medicines,&, purchased by... Chief Disbursing Officer.
 * Form 46: Medical Officers having charge of medical and hospital will make semi-annually, and whenever relieved, returns to the Surgeon- General... Return of Medical Hospital Property.
 * Form 47: Medical officers in charge of sick and wounded refugees and freedmen to forward to his office
 * Form 48: Monthly report of sick and wounded refugees.
 * Form 49: Account of Hospital Stores, Furniture & issued.
 * Form 50: Freedmen's Hospital at ... in account with Subsistence Department
 * Form 51: Account of Clothing & of Patients in Hospital. Date, Name, Residence, Remarks
 * Form 52: Account of Furniture, Cooking Utensils, Beddings, & in Use
 * Form 53: Roll of Attendants Employee under Contract in Medical Department ... Name, Date of Contract Nature of Service
 * Form 54: Reports of Attendants Employed under Contract in Medical Department ... Name, How Employed, Date of, By Whom Made,...
 * Form 55: [Hospital] Register: Name, Age, Residence, Complaint, Admitted, Discharged, Transferred, Died, Remarks
 * Form 56: Prescription Book, Diet Book, and Diet Table: Name
 * From 57: Monthly Statement of the Hospital Fund ...
 * Form 58: Return of Commissioned Medical Officers and Physicians employed under contract, serving in the District of...:Name, Rank, Station
 * Form 59: Monthly Report of Destitute Discharged Soldiers and their Families, who have been treated in... at... District of ... Fields: Name of Patients, Age, Relationship to Soldier, Name of Soldier, Rank, Company, Regiment, Free or Slave, Enlistment.'''
 * Form 60: Contract with a Private Physician
 * Form 61: Nurse Service Agreement
 * Form 62: The Undersigned destitute persons of ... County, State of .... do hereby acknowledge to have
 * Form No. 63: of which it is the voucher, and returned with Abstract to the Assistant Commissioner on the last of every month.
 * Form 63: Abstract of Subsistence Stores received and issued to destitute person in ... .. County in the
 * Form 64: Consolidated Report of Subsistence Stores received and issued to Destitute Persons in the
 * Form 65: Report of Transportation issued by __ Assistant Commissioner, State of __ for the month
 * Form 66: Monthly Report of ... Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and
 * First Class: Dependents: Well/Sick
 * Second Class: In Government Employment
 * Third Class: Receiving Rations and giving lien on Crop
 * Total number of
 * Gain: Born: Male: Female: Received
 * Loss: Died: Male: Female; Discharged
 * Rations:
 * Notes:
 * 1. All fourteen years of age and over, counted adults: all under, children. Dependents include
 * 2. Refugees and Freedmen will be borne on separate returns.
 * 3. The back of this return may be used for such further remarks as may be of interest or useful to ti
 * Form 67: [Land Reports] Monthly Report of ..... Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees,
 * possession in the State of ... during the month ending .... 186 ....''' [p113 sample form]
 * Name of Former Owner
 * Location: County or Parish/ Other Boundaries
 * Alterations since last Report: Gained: Date/How. Lost: Date/How
 * How Held: (abandoned or confiscated)
 * Description: Cultivated; Acres uncultivated: Across woodland/Acres Cleared
 * Total No. of Acres:
 * Buildings:
 * Remarks:
 * Station:
 * Date:
 * Form 68: [School Reports] District Superintendents Monthly School Report to Bureau R.F., and A.L.,
 * Location or the name of school When Opened
 * Societies, & Patrons
 * Teachers: Whole no.; White Colored,
 * No of Pupils Enrolled