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Blufton Chambers Co
29th Oct 1866

Maj Genl Swain

Genl
Although unknown to you personally, I nonetheless take the liberty of making an appeal to you as the head of the Freedmans Bureau in behalf of the perishing sick and destitute freedmen within the corporate limits of Blufton. This class of our population number several hundred within these limits. One third at least and perhaps one half of them are sick helpless houseless and starving and must perish unless they receive substantial aid immediately from some quarter. I have not the strength nor the means to do for them what Justice humanity and mercy demands from us all, but especially from your department. Would to God! you were here to see for yourself what I have seen in the short space of three weeks of the sufferings and destitution of these