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Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands,
Headquarters, Eastern District of North Carolina,
New Berne, N.C., Jan 24th, 1866.

Colonel

I have the honor to inform you that authentic intelligence has been received here of the burning of a building used as a Church by the colored people at a placed called Cedar Grove, Perquimans County. The church was the property of John Overton a free black, and was about being used as a school house for colored children. This was the avowed cause of burning it.

Respectfully reminding you of the naut action of Maj. Gen. Thomas in a similar case of outrage at Tullahoma, Tennessee. I have the honor to request that a small detachment of troops be sent to that point, and the white people in the vicinity compelled to rebuild the house, and that measures may be taken to afford the freedmen & their teachers that protection they need.

Very Respectfully,
Your Obt Servt
F A Seely
Capt & Supt E Dist NC

Col W W Wheeler
Comdg Dist New Berne