Viewing page 77 of 199

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

War Department,
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, 
Washington, May 15th 1866.

Mr. R.D. Cunningham late Lt. Col. 8th U.S. Cold Art. & of Illinois states that he was mustered out of service about 8 mos. ago, since which time he has been living in Paducah & Smithland, Ky. and engaged in collection of claims of widows of cold soldiers. He has had nothing to do with the running of plantations. About four month ago at Columbus, Ky he was introduced to Mr. John Walters formerly a rebel Captain & now of the firm of Briggs Walter & Co. of Eastport Miss. but acting as police officer at Mobile Ala. where a few days after said Walters proposed to Mr. C. that he should join the firm of J. Bowzer & Co. 64 Water St. Mobile. C was to procure negroes from the freedmens Bureau for the ostensible purpose of giving them legitimate employment on a plantation called Layton's plantation Escambia Co. Fla. 75 miles from the mouth of the river on the West side. a plantation leased for the avowed purpose of cotton raising, but not planted, and used as a depot for the collection of cold men women and