Bureau officials issued rations and clothing, operated hospitals and refugee camps, and supervised labor contracts. While a major part of the Bureau's early activities involved the supervision of abandoned and confiscated property, its mission was to provide relief and help freedmen become self–sufficient. Oliver Otis Howard as Commissioner of the Bureau, and Howard served in that position until June 30, 1872, when activities of the Bureau were terminated in accordance with an act of J(17 Stat. In May 1865, President Andrew Johnson appointed Maj. The Bureau was responsible for the supervision and management of all matters relating to refugees and freedmen, and of lands abandoned or seized during the Civil War. The life of the Bureau was extended twice by acts of J(14 Stat. The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, also known as the Freedmen's Bureau, was established in the War Department by an act of Congress on Ma(13 Stat. Wherever they were separable, the records created by the Assistant Commissioner in his military capacity were placed with the Records of United States Army Continental Commands, 1821–1920, RG 393. Although the Assistant Commissioner generally maintained separate records for each of his capacities, in the case of letters and endorsements sent the records were frequently combined. The dual function of the office is also reflected in the recordkeeping practices for that period. The title "Office of the Assistant Commissioner" was changed in June 1866 to "Headquarters, District of Alabama," and in August 1866 to "Headquarters, Subdistrict of Alabama." The heading "District of Alabama" was used again from March 1867 until superseded by "State of Alabama" in February 1868. The dual function of the Assistant Commissioner resulted in a succession of changes in the official headings used on correspondence and issuances. He therefore created and received records in both capacities. From June 1866 to January 1868, Assistant Commissioner Swayne also served as the military commander of Alabama.
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