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Office Assistant Commissioner, State of Alabama,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands.
Montgomery, Ala., March 1st 1866.

General
Col. Robinsons Adjutant, Capt. Usher arrived here this morning. He states that the Methodist Episcopal church on Dauphin Street in Mobile was burned on the night of the 26th inst. Col. R. had examined the building several times and was waiting arrangements to put it in repair with a view to removing the school from the Medical College, or a portion of it, to the church and the fact that each was his intention became generally known. There is no doubt that the building was fired on account of its being about to be used as a colored school.
The Barton Academy has been purchased by parties who have already established a school for whites and it cannot be obtained for our purposes. The only buildings practicable was this church and the Marine Hospital. Now that the church is burned there is no place to establish it except in the Hospital, I have informed Col. Robinson that he need not take any further steps to vacate the building until I hear from you. I think that the burning of the church justifies us in the retention of the present building.
I understand that Dr. Scott as soon as he heard that

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