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in that city. He informed me that gross and flagrant outrages have been committed in Girard for months. So in short, he said that "it was the worst place he ever knew." Much of the crime can be traced to such orders and men as cited above. Capt Slaughter informed me that a few days ago, two women carrying infants in their arms, came into his office from Girard. They had been fired upon, through a window, by some members of the militia, with shot guns loaded with fine shot. All of the party were suffering from wounds received in this manner. So great has been the confusion, so frequent the crimes against freedmen in this place that Col Woodall, comdg district of Columbus, was obliged to post guards on the bridge over the river to protect freedmen from violence. Two freedmen were shot the day I was there. One because he would not enter into contract, the shot taking effect in his left side. The other was a returned soldier and shot in the right while on his way to the depot. So great is the disorder and lawlessness of the place, that I was assured that it was