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5. Agencies, as you aware, Sir, have been established in many, if not all, the free states, to look after the claims of this kind, and to prosecute them without cost to the claimant. But no such agencies are likely to be established in the South for colored workers' families. They must look to the Freedman's Bureau.
6. If it be subjected that this work may all be done by private claim agents, who make this kind of work a specialty, I reply, that the poor people in whose behalf this plea is made will never find these gents; and, even if they should find them, it would be difficult for them to furnish the requisite evidence to establish a claim. Moreover, the cost of the gents' fees would be a very serious matter to them.
Should I need an apology for addressing you upon this subject I can only refer to you to the poor mothers and widows who came to me almost daily and ask me to help them.
I have the honor, Major, to subscribe myself
Your Most
Ob't Serv't
John Lawrence
Chaplain 15th. U.S.C.T.

Major John M Cochrane
A.A.G.

Transcription Notes:
edited: corrections, not necessary to note underlining, not require,