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Beaufort SC 6th March 1869 Bvt. Maj. H. Neide A. A. A. G. Columbia Maj. I have the honor to herewith enclose the reply of Sheriff Williams to the demand of the Assist. Commissioner, that the two bales of cotton seized as the property of Charles F. Poetting be delivered to me. The Sheriff states that the cotton was found in the possession of Mr. Poetting or on his premises. For the information of of the Assist. Comr. I desire to say that the cotton had been delivered to Capt. Lewis in the streets of Beaufort. Three miles from the residence of Mr. Poetting where it was raised, & was ordered stored where the Sheriff found it. It is true that the title to the premises in Beaufort, where the cotton was stored, was in Mr. Poetting but possession was not in him. He had given possession of it to Tenants who rented early in Dec. or in Nov. In either event, Capt. Lewis had never given possession of the cotton to Mr. Poetting. The Sheriff also states that possession is the only Title a man can have to personal property.