Freedmen's Bureau Records: W. Storer How to Orlando
Brown, November 1, 1865
Summary:
How asks that the black community in Staunton be allowed to continue using a room
in the Court House for their school. How cites the previous usage of the space,
and declares that the School is a much more important enterprise "fraught with
untold benefits to loyal freedmen."
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Headquarters, Sixth District, Virginia
Colonel O. Brown
Assistant Commissioner
Richmond, Virginia
November 1st 1865
Winchester, Virginia
Colonel
I have the honor to forward herewith a communication just received from the Assistant Superintendent at Staunton, Virginia. I have instructed him to request of Colonel Clay the continued occupation of the rooms in the Court House until the decision at Headquarters of the Department could be made known, and I have respectfully to request that the upper (third) story of the Court House at Staunton may be reserved for the use of the Freedmens School, if it shall be found necessary to restore the other portions of the buildings to the Civil Authorities for their exclusive use.
When I used the same rooms as offices in August and September last, I was personally cognizant of the fact that there was no desire for their use by the Civil Authorities, and that Colonel Clay gave unrestricted use of the portions occupied by him whenever desired for the purposes of the Civil Authorities.
The [unclear: wings] of the building were at that time solely used by such authorities and the Central portion in question, if vacated by the Military Authorities would under ordinary circumstances seldom be occupied by the Civil Authorities oftener than once in the week, and for a part of that day.
I am also aware that there is not another building in Staunton which can be used
for that School
[page 2]
and I respectfully protest against the destruction of
an enterprise fraught with untold benefits to loyal freedmen, as distinguished
from the [unclear: converts] to amnesty who now want possession of these
rooms because they are used for that School.
I am, Colonel &c
W. Storer How
Captain and Assistant Quartermaster
Superintendent
&c
