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Goldsboro N.C  Nov 13 1865

O.O Howard
Gen'l in cheif Freedmans Dept.
Washington D.C.

Genl I understand you are appointing citizens as officers in differant sections of the Country and putting them in charge of Freedmen, iff it would be admissible I would say I was the first man to Volenteer in the Seventy five thousand (75000 call and has been engaged on U.S.M.R.Rus. us after the fall of Columbus Ky untill the fall of Vicksburg 

I was with Genl Grant for the last Battle of Corinth Miss down to Springdale Miss and Back to Memphis Tenn when Vandorn nocked the Land from under us  Col G.G Pride was my Cheif Engnr.  I came to this part of the Country to get charge of some of those Railroads  But a Northern man Stands as mutch Chance as a cat in Hell without Claws, iff thear is anything in your Dept I could be usefull in it would be thankfully rcd   permit me to refer You to the   

Transcription Notes:
Van Dorn's Raid: A Confederate officer later recalled Van Dorn’s plan of attack: “The first or head of the column was to dash into and capture the infantry camped in front of us; the second, following immediately after the first, was to sweep by the encampment, move straight into the town until it reached the street leading north to the fair grounds, then wheel to the right and charge the cavalry camp; the third . . . was to dash through the town, disregarding everything until it struck the infantry occupying the public square.” The attack ended in a complete success. Confederate cavalrymen rode roughshod over the infantry camp. The second column sent toward the Union cavalry camp found the soldiers in line for morning inspection. Although startled, the Union cavalrymen managed to mount a brief defense before being overwhelmed and forced to surrender.