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Office Assistant Commissioner, State of Alabama,
BUREAU OF REFUGEES, FREEDMEN AND ABANDONED LANDS.
Montgomery, Ala., March 27th 1866.

Maj. Gen. C.R. Woods
Comdg. Dept. of Ala.

General
On the 17th inst. the Supt. of Freedmen for this District sent a guard of three men to a plantation near West Point to arrest a man who had shot a freedman, the civil authorities having failed to take any action in the case. Upon reaching the house and endeavoring to arrest the man they were attacked by several persons fired upon and driven off. Two of the guard were struck by pistol balls but not injured.

Last week at my request Bvt. Brig. Gen. Heally sent a guard up there and arrested two of the men engaged in resisting the arrest and brought them here where they are now under guard. The party who shot the freedman escaped.

I enclose charges and specifications against the parties. I have the honor to request that you will order a Military Commission to convene for the trial of the parties. If you do not think it best to convene one please give me your opinion as to the plan of convening one by an order from this Office taking officers on duty in the Bureau for the purpose.

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