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him than to take the chances of his being free otherwise. And of course you are aware that President Lincoln's emancipation Proclamation did not apply to Tennessee, and Slavery had not been abolished in this state at that time and it was not known when it would be, if ever. So it seems to me that thus far there cannot reasonably be any blame attached to any person in consequence of this transaction. Some time after the said Miles Childress bought his son Henry it seems that he became dissatisfied with his trade. and without saying anything to the said Thomas Woodard upon the subject went to Maj. Armstrong who was temporarily in command of the Post at this place without giving the said Woodard any notice of, or opportunity to make and statement or defence in the cause, ordered him to refund the money paid and deliver up the Papers given in payment for the boy Henry. to the said Miles Childress, who brought said order and delivered it to the said Woodard, that being the first notice he had of the proceeding; at the time of the delivery by the said Miles Childress of this order, he and the said Woodard made another agreement by which the said Miles Childress agreed to pay $250, in a short time in addition to the $250 which he had already paid making in all $500. instead of $800 to be paid for said boy Henry. the said Woodard agreeing to deliver up the notes upon the payment of this $250 by the said Childress, this second agreement being satisfactory to the said Miles Childress is the reason Maj'r. Armstrongs order was not complied with, but as in the former instance, it seems the said Miles Childress again became dissatisfied with this second agreement and