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Bureau R.F & A.L.
Sub. Dist. of Memphis
Chief Supts Office
Memphis Tenn. Dec. 13th 1866

Lieut. S.W. Groesbeck
A.A.A. Genl
Nashville Tenn.

Lieutenant
I have the honor to submit the following report of the affairs of the Bureau in this Sub. Dist. for the month of November 1866.

During the past month the number of complaints that have been made to the Agents of this Dist. by colored persons, of having been defrauded out of their labor for the past season has been greatly in excess of any other month since I entered upon the duties of this Office. The short crop this season is seized upon as an excuse by many parties to defraud the laborer out of his just dues. The Civil Authorities do not nor can they even extend that proper protection to the colored people until they learn by sad experience to protect themselves more fully at the time of entering into contract with their employers. The report upon this subject from Haywood County shows a deplorable state of affairs. Mr. Scott Supt., in his report for November