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well appointed and the freedmen as continued and comfortable as any in that last of the country. I returned to town and called by appointment upon a Mr Thompson; a large planter and a man of some practice ability. I answered some questions which had suggested themselves but had not occurred to him the evening previous. He promised to explain to those whom he might meet the information I had given him. Mr Thompson may be a valuable man to the Bureau in his Section. 

It was now four o'clock and I was obliged to move down to the river (Tombigbee) six miles distant to get corn + fodder for my horses and mules.  I encamped on the shore of the river and in the morning, Thursday, crossed by Ferry, an operation somewhat tedious but safely accomplished.

At Coffeeville, the settlement on the Eastern shore of the Bigbee and in Clark Co I met and conversed with a few persons.  Some months since in the interim between military and civil authority some abuses were practiced but I could obtain nothing tangible and the injured parties had left.  The planters generally observed the fact that the negroes were free and were treating them very well.

This County as well as Choctaw and Washington is infested with gangs of cotton and horse thieves