Viewing page 170 of 257

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Hayneville March 22nd 1866

Maj Gen Wayer Swain
Montgomery
Ala
I have been attending to the duties of Justice of the Peace and in connection with this, acting as agent of the Freedmans Bureau since about the days of the Confederacy; I am still acting in this capacity - the object of this communication is to ask you to give me the agency of the Bureau for this County. The complaints between between Freedmen and the whites are generally made to me and in my action in the presense, wish to have authority and be sustained - and would be pleased to have authority direct from you - to act for the County and will strictly conform to your instructions in all cases that may come before me as such agent.
I will state that I have invariably punished the guilty parties in cases of cruel treatment by the whites - and now have the satisfaction of stating to you, that I have had no case of assault, or cases of any note between the whites & blacks this year.
The greatest trouble I have had in the last few months, is, in getting families
together, but have had no difficulty thus far in having my orders obeyed