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Burlington New Jersey July 24th 1867 Major Genl Wager Swayne Comm'r State, Alabama, F.B.R.& A.L. Montgomery Ala General, I perceive through the newspapers that an order has been issued by General O. O. Howard, providing for the appointment of Citizen Agents in the Freedmen's Bureau by the Commissioners. I therefore desire hereby to present myself as a candidate for the office of Citizen Agent as above. You will, in all probability, recollect that I filled the office of Agent in the Freedmen's Bureau under you at Tuscaloosa, where I was attached to the 34th New Jersey Vols, as the Captain of Co. "B". Hoping that you will deem that my appointment will inure to the benefit of the Service - I am Respectfully Yours Jesse W. Cogswell Late Capt. Co. "B" 34 N.J. Vols. I do not know the name of the A.A.G. on your Staff, or I would not have written this directly to you, but I would have sent it through the proper channel J.W.C.