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33

these gentlemen or myself during my examination before them.
I am Colonel
Very Respectfully
Your Ob'dt Servant
Chas. P Wickenshaw
Bvt. Maj. and A.A. Genl and Asst Supt

A true Copy
Sigd.) Allan Rutherford.
Bvt. Col. U.S.V and Sup't So Dist. N.C.

Official Copy (Sigd.) Asa Bird Gardner 1st Lt. and Adjt VRC and A.A.A. Genl.

Col. Rutherford endorses this paper as follows,
"The within papers are respectfully forwarded to Bvt. Brig. Genl. Whittlesey, Ass't Com'r for N.C. for his information with a request that, if he thinks proper they be forwarded to Maj. Genl. O.O. Howard.
I have endeavored to ascertain if the facts as stated in the published report of Generals Steadman and Fullteron That freedmen had been sentenced to work in the Chain gang in this City by Major Wickershaw," were so — have made diligent inquiry among citizens and others and can hear of no such case.
(Sigd) Allan Rutherford.
Bvt. Col. and Supt' South. Dist. 

Official Copy:
(Sigd.) Asa Bird Gardner
1st Lt. and Adjt 7 Reg VRC and A.A.A. Genl.

The difficulty of enforcing compliance with contracts on the part of freedmen was felt by planters to be very serious. Many