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0621 with orders to report to Dept Commander at New Orleans - this appointment I must decline. During the past two months there has been a number of Union and freedmen murdered in various parts of the state of Arkansas - more than twelve such cases have been reported from entirely reliable sources and no arrests have been made either by the Civil or Military Authorities. and I believe not over half of such outrages are even reported. I am not willing to be held responsible for these things when I am powerless to prevent them. As a Civilian I cannot exercise the Authority I could as a General Officer of the Army and I respectfully ask to be