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Mobile Oct 21st, 1865.
Brig Genl. Wager Swayne,
Chief Freedmen's Bureau.
State of Alabama.

Sir,
Charles Cottingham has requested us, as his Attorney, to write you and lay before you the following statement of facts, and respectfully ask your adjudication in the matter; which I have the honor to do.

Charles Cottingham is a resident of Mobile County, and a loyal citizen of the United States. He is the owner of a track of land, containing about forty acres, on which is situated some forty houses or tenements, known as the "Dog River Factory", and located some five miles from the City of Mobile. This property was the property of Mr. Cottingham & in his possessions on the 15th May, 1865, when he was ejected from it and it was taken in possession by the Freedmen's Bureau for use, and occupation, as a Colony. He asserts that the property was not abandoned, & that the County was not in arms against the United States Govt at the time of the occupation of the property by the Bureau. Mr. C has cheerfully yielded his property for the use of the Bureau, but he considers that he is justly entitled to compensation for its use. He has applied again and again to the agency of the Bureau in this district, but he has not only failed to receive any compensation, but has been unable to obtain any information as to how he should [[strikethrough]] get [[/strikethrough]] proceed to get his dues, except in one instance, when, as he states, Col George Harmount, late the agent of the Bureau here, told him he should be paid, and that about $300 per month was a fair compensation for the use of his property - Soon after