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Office Bureau Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
District of Northern Alabama,
Huntsville Ala May 2. 1866.

Major O D Kinsman
Asst. Adjt Genl.

Maj.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of 28. Apl 1866. In which I am directed to 
"take no direct action in regard to past official acts of T.M Goodfellow." and to send communications on the subject through that office" The rule suggested has in every case been strictly complied with. I have avoided having anything to do with his past acts, except in cases of unfinished business. There has been but two cases where I have even noticed any statements or complaints against him; and in those I sent papers for action of Ass't Com'r stating in my letter of trasmital that "I did not feel like acting in such matters against my predecessor."
As to communications sent, I have sent none on the subject, only those that have been sent to Maj Gen. Swayne. In one instance however there were a lot of papers from Genl Graul, Thomas, Howard & others relative to a decision made by the Asst. here before I came in the case of Giers vs Gooch. Which papers were sent direct to me. I declined to act on the papers for the reason that Mr. Giers was absent  at Washington and further, because of the extreme indignation of Mr.