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Office Bureau Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
District of Northern Alabama,
Huntsville Aug 29th 1866.

Maj. O. D. Kinsman
A.A. General
Montgomery Ala.

Maj.
I return the papers in the Roberts case without making the arrest as you will observe by reference to my endorsement thereon.  In addition to the reasons alleged in that endorsement for not arresting Drake, I will state that as my duties here are of an advisor and almost if not entirely of a civil nature it seems that my means of success and usefulness might be materially diminished by an act so clearly beyond my regular duties, as that of making the Military arrest, in question.  I take this view of the case the more readily as there is an officer here having troops under his immediate command, and who is clearly embraced among those officers to whom General Grants order No. 44, is directed.

And again the officer commanding Post here may possibly regard the fact that I am called upon to act in the case as an indication of a want of confidence in his ability or disposition to use the means under his control to have the guilty parties brought to justice.  For these reasons I asked that Lieut. Breckenridge be directed to make the arrest. Or if you still think it advisable for me to make the arrest I need hardly assure you that any order requiring me to do so will be obeyed with alacrity.  I trust you will not regard my present action as caption or evasive.

I am Sir, very respectfully Your obdt servant
Jno B Callis
Bvt. Col. U.S.V. and Supt B R F & A L.

R.L.S. P. 186.