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Fort Smith Arkansas March 23rd 1868 Mr Wm. M. Colby Supt Education Bureau RF&AL Little Rock Ark. Sir: I find affairs here on the whole not as favorable as from reports I had hoped I should - but it is to be hoped that order in time will be evolved from this chaotic state Col Lugenbeel has that church project on the brain, and on the whole is one of the impracticable regular army men sometimes met with, but he is very polite and assures me that every thing to facilitate my work shall be done. Out of all the grand general vague statements in reference to lots & c.. this is the sum. A Major King offers to give a deed to 5 acres of land about two miles from the city on the Van Buren road to the Freedman after a home is erected. During the wet