WAR DEPARTMENT.

Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands,

Washington, May 17^th 1867.

Dear Father

Your letter of the 13^th inst. is at hand. I had been looking for a letter from you for several days past. I am at my desk in the office and as it is noon I have taken the opportunity to send you a few lines. I know very well that this Bureau will not always be in operation but I see better chances open for me here in Washington outside of this Bureau than I do in Rochester, and my object is to settle somewhere. I can pay fifty dollars per month to anybody that will loan me eighteen hundred until the whole is paid or perhaps more if desired. I did receive the fifty dollars and I made sure that I mentioned it in one of my letters, if I did not it was not because I forgot to thank you for it but in writing about other things it slipped my memory for the time being. There are other positions that will soon be open to colored young men in this city and I stand as

good chance of getting into them as anyone. General Howard thus far has expressed himself as being well pleased with me, and a reccommendation from him will have great weight. There are other Departments here employing a great many more clerks than this one that colored men will soon be eligible to, and they are permanent also. There are six Japanese embassadors here and they are stopping at Wormleys they wanted some copying done night before last and M^r. Wormley sent for me to do it, I wrote until most twelve o'clock and rec^d. three dollars for it that was after my days work at the Bureau was finished. While they remain here if they have any more copying to do they have kindly consented to give me the job. I would have sent the $50 had you not have written to me that you would take my share in the wagon which is $45 the remaining five I will give you when you come down here also I want to pay you for Libbies board and I would be glad if she can remain with you until she can come down here. I would like very much to buy a small lot down here just now because I can get a lot now on the outskirts of the city at quite a low figure and soon these lots that are for sale will increase on account of the continued growth of the city. I know and feel it too that there are too many outlets to your purse but my object is not to get all I can out of you and then talk about you, and at any rate should you consent to loan me the sum named I should not expect you to do so without security. Mr. Jackson with whom I board is a carpenter and a good one.

I have seen several houses that he has built and they look as well and are put together as well as any other carpenters works that I have ever seen. He has offered to build me a house should I make up my mind to have one, I have already made up my mind but that wont do alone. I dont see why the cow should starve to death. I left hay when I came here and also asked Nathan to look out for the horse and cow and whatever he bought for either, that you would pay him back when you returned home. He promised to attend to these things and I dont know any cause why he should not have done so, for I am sure he would not be doing a hundredth part of what he ought to do. Mr. Langston is here and has rec^d an appointment in the Bureau as inspector of Schools

throughout the south. The weather here is very fine and strawberries are making there appearance in market. Asparagus is in abundance. peas are in blossom and everything in this locality is in a flourishing condition. I gave Major Saxton your autograph and he was highly pleased with it placing it on the same page with that of his brother (Genl Saxton saying that he had no doubt you would consent to his placing it there. Give my love to mother and Libbie. I wrote to Libbie last week and am curious to know whether my letter was rec^d

Hoping soon to hear from you or see you soon. I will draw this to a close.

Aff. Yr. Son.

Charles R. Douglass

264 G. St.

Washington D.C.