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Raymond Miss. Oct 9th 1865
Co[[d?]]. Saml Thomas, Commissioner Freemen's Bureau &c 

Sir

On the 27th [[ult.?]] I received from you an order for the restitution of my property. Then held by Lieut Jacobs, commanding post at Raymond, for confiscation- On the 29th of the same month, I presented your order to Lieut J., who said he "would move out of my house as soon as he could get another to go into" - About eight days there after I again called on Lieut J. and requested to know when I could get my house? His reply was as before, with this in addition. that he had tried to get a house and failed- He knew of but one now vacant house_ He should try to get that. but did not expect to get it, and he was not going out on the ground &c. He still occupies my house, with no prospect of vacating it, So far as I can see or know, and I now appeal to you, as the proper authority in such cases, to give me such an order as will procure for me the immediate possession of the house. Perhaps it would be proper, under the circumstances, for me to give you the particulars touching his entry upon the premises- This by your leave, I will briefly do- Sometime in July last. I received an application through Capt Cobb, from Lieut J. for a room in the "Magnolia House".
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to be used as an office- This I granted, and he went into it- In a short time there after he applied for one other room for a bed room- This I granted also, and in a short time afterwards, he applied for a third room to be used a cooking room- This I refused to grant on the ground of the danger from the use of fire in the [[part of page missing]]  He then notified me, that he should use his military [[part of page missing]]ity and use the third room, and within a few weeks afterward notified me that all my property was liable to confiscation. The "Magnolia House" is a house which has been used as a hotel, and is the only suitable house for that purpose now in Raymond- There is now no hotel in the place- I have an application to rent the "M House" for that purpose now, but the house needs repairs, and I cant get possession, and cant make the repairs until I get possession. Connected to the house in question, and on a part of the same lot, is a garden, which I had some in turnips for the use of my family- In this garden Lieut J has kept a cow & calf until the turnips have been wholly distroyed. 

Thus you see Sir, how I have been deprived of my rights. and am being kept out of the use of my property- If therefore, it is in your power, and consistent with your duty, to issue such an order as will return me to the immediate possession of my property. You will there by greatly obliged Sir. Yours Very Respectfully, [[signature]] Jos. Gray [[/signature]]