ORGANIZATION AND EXPANSION 35 
THE FREEDMEN’S BANK AND THE 
FREEDMEN’S BUREAU 
In many ways the Freedmen’s Bank was con- 
nected with the Freedmen’s Bureau, and the 
connection was used to every possible advantage. 
The Negroes came to believe that the bank was 
a part of the Freedmen’s Bureau system. When 
he went south in the interest of the bank, Alvord 
found that his connection with the Freedmen’s 
Bureau educational department was of decided 
advantage to him in his work. He carried with 
him the endorsement of General O. O. Howard, 
the Commissioner of the Bureau,'? and he is said 
to have represented this recommendation as an 
order from Howard that the Negro soldiers 
should deposit their bounty money with him. 
“It appears also,” asserted later investigators, 
“that Howard directed that bounty money in 
the hands of Bureau officials be turned over to 
the Bank.” 
For five years Alvord, as inspector of the Bu- 
reau schools and as officer of the bank, traversed 
the South soliciting deposits and establishing 
branch banks. He continued this work for two 
years after he became president, for in this field 
he was considered most valuable by those who 
were directing the policy of the institution. To 
meetings of Negroes he explained its purposes 
and told of its advantages. He, Sperry, and other 
agents scattered circulars broadcast explaining 
the benefits of the bank, and stating that Lincoln 
had favored it, and that General Howard con- 
 Howard’s Statement. See Appendix, p. 146. 
Douglas Report, p. 67.