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Newtown Feby 8 1866
Genl Lockwood
Esteemed Sir
It has been reported in Washington to the authorities that all coloured soldiers here "returned from the War" are insulted & their lives threatened & in some cases murder has been perpetrated on them. Such reports are calculated to do us great harm and let me assure you there is no truth in them.
[[strikethrough]] Reported [[/strikethrough]] 
It seems some time since a returned col'd soldier had a hand to hand combat with a man named Wilkinson & in the affray Wilkinson struck the soldier with an axe helve which produced death in a few days. I don't know who was in fault Wilkinson was from Accomac where he fled to at once after committing the offence the authorities here seemed to make diligent search or inquiry, but had to drop the matter no one now knowing where the offender is It was also reported that the civil authorities waved the matter & made no effort to bring the guilty party to justice. We would have esteemed it a great favour

Transcription Notes:
"axe helve" is an axe handle Accomac is a town in Virginia.