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0751

L37
[[stamp]] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES [[/stamp[[

State of Arkansas
City of Fort Smith } October teh 12th AD 1865
O. Howard
Freedmans Buro.

To The Honorable Superintendent of the Washington City D.C.

Sir
We your petitioners would Respectfully represent - to your honor, (as follows).-

That at the commensment of the late Rebellion we resided in the Indian countrys, and were held as slaves by the Chocktaw and Chicasaw Indian, In different locations in those Territorys and dureing the progress of the war we made our respective escape from bondage to the freedom of the Federal lines, but left our wives & children Fathers & Mothers Brothers & sisters behind. Still to endure the severity of their Savage masters, On still such times as the fortunes of war should bring them relief, "as we had hoped"

But to our sad disapointment - and regret - the war is now appearently ceased and a general peace amongst the white and red man is agreed apon, and generally adhered to by those two races, And yet our dear ones are still held and tyranized over in a most cruel maner by their former masters. Since the right of Property i our Race has been abolished by U.S. Gov. These savage monsters have become more