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Meridian Miss Aug 23 1865.

Brig: Gen'l Wager Swayne  }
Montgomery Ala            }

Genl
I regretted very much not being able to see you again before lieving [[leaving]] Montgomery, though I went to your Adjutant twice & told him the Boat would lieve before the time he appointed for me to return. 

I hope after an examination of the deed & contract, you will see the property is mine, bought & paid for by me, & that I rented it to the Confederate officer in good faith. I have never had any position in the confederate Government only as an Employee.

I am just in recpt of a letter from a citizen of Demopolis saying, "The Buildings are not occupied now only by straggle negroes, & that one of the buildings is nearly torn down, the [[sashes?]] all taken out & carried off, & the balance of the buildings will all be torn down & hauled off in a short time unless put in charge of some one." That is the only property I have now to make a start on, after having worked honestly & faithfully for thirty years. I have been rich, but from this out, if I can make an honest living, I will be very well satisfied.

I left Jackson Miss a few days before Genl Sherman first came there, with what little machinery I could take off in a hurry & went to Demopolis; selected the spot & bought it, intending to put up another Foundry & machine shop & begin my old business. In the meantime the advance officer (that took charge of my buildings in Jackson & that were afterwards burnt up by Genl Sherman) came to

Transcription Notes:
per SI ignore archive stamp - removed - sashes is likely correct