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letter of September 26th you speak of the People "aiding in this matter"- This county was in the center of the track of Sherman's Grand Army — Horses cattle Hogs, domestic fowls were nearly all swept away, nearly all the cotton in the county was burned — And our Court House and Jail were destroyed — Superadded to this, the difficulties of the slaves and a bad crop [[strikethrough]] year [[/strikethrough]] last year with the Low price of cotton this year which actually will not more than pay the cost of production — & you have a series of causes which have actually Bankrupted my county & People.  With many of our People both white & colored, it has been a struggle to live this year, and the prospect in the future is gloomy in the Extreme & With too many of our people. The questions of Bread is paramount to all others, & while this state continues, little can be done here in the cause of Educating either white or black.-

Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servt
James R Smith
Agt Bureau R.F.& A. L.