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Head Quarters Freedman Bureau 
Rogersville Hawkins County Tennessee
March the 13 1866

General Fisk: 

I respectfully desire your advise in relation to a difference between John G. Stuart (White) and Jeremiah Kyle (Colored) touching the title to a mule. 

the following are the facts: James Clarke of Hamilton County Tenn. being only authorized to seize U.S. stock wherever found in the hands of individuals took from John G. Stuart the mule referred to by virtue of this authority because the mule was branded U.S. and Stuart had one title thereto from the government. Mr. Clarke after seizing the mule traded it to Jeremiah Kyle for an animal which he (Freedman) had purchased with his own money. Stuart allowed the Freedman to peaceably possess and hold the mule for some months- in fact until Clark the agent had left the country and then (lately) urged his claim. He has made affidavit which I herewith forward. the Sherriff of the County came vested with Civil authority to take the mule I  interposed and stopped the proceedings, knowing that the Freedman had come into possession of the property honestly and doubting