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D177 encl

Statement of John Luidsar (Freedman)

Being down to Hilton Head one day last fall I [[??]] [[??]] by [[??]] [[??]] he [[??]] that I had been [[??]] some cotton and he [[??]] me what I was going to do with my cotton.  I [[??]] that I wanted it [[??]], he said then you had better bring it down to me, its [[??]] my but [[??]] you can do as the "Government has given me a great long building where you cotton will be [[??]] in [[??]] [[??]] [[??]] cheaper than you can get it to me anywhere else.  You will have no storage: and no bagging to buy: and the cotton is sold for the higher Cash price, and the man who buys it pay for the bag, now you better [[??]] [[??]] all you have and [[??]] all of your friends to do the same for if they bring it down here and sell it to [[??]] men they will cheat you out of half of it and more too.   I brought it down [[??]] [[??]] [[??]] that any one was to [[??]] [[??]] [[??]] [[??]] of the cotton [[??]] [[??]] [[??]].  The first I brought down I took [[??]] to [[??]] [[??]] and he said take it right [[??]] to the Cotton House and Mr. [[??]] will [[??]] it for you.  I am