Viewing page 82 of 271

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Office of Supt. Refugees, Freedmen & A.L.
Northern District of Alabama
Huntsville June 7th 1866

General
I have the honor to make some representations of facts to you, relative to the state of feeling &c. in my district.

A growing dislike and bitterness is apparent. Instance of wrong and violence seem to be more frequent in their occurrence. Many planters and other employers of freedmen persist in exercising an arbitrary control over their colored employees, and they invariably set up a terrible tirade of abuse and crimination, if the black makes an application for redress.

A few days since a rebel officer, at Decatur, in one of his many drunken fits, shot and dangerously wounded a harmless negro, and brandished his weapons about, cursing and threatening the whole black race, and "yankees", and defying any of them to meet him. The civil authorities refused to take any notice of him or his acts, except to quietly inform him to keep out of the way a day or two! I made an application for a detail of soldiers to go an arrest him, and it was referred to the General Commanding the Department The guilty man still runs at large, and from present indications, is likely to remain undisturbed in his lawless liberty, indefinitely. The same man is an application for pardon, and is on parole of honor to behave himself!

Three weeks ago, four hundred sacks of corn for distribution to destitute of North Alabama arrived here. The Judge of Probate