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Case of James Bruce,
deceased
Complaint of ill-treatment by Officers of Freedmens Bureau

E. D. KENNEDY,
No 9
ATTORNEY AT LAW .
LOUISVILLE, KY.

109 FIFTH STREET,
OPPOSITE THE COURT HOUSE.

R. 21.  March 23d 1869.

W53. R.F.A.L. Vol 14, '69.

Washington D.C.
March 20th 1869

This communication is respectfully referred to the Sec. of War. In the conversation I had with Mr James Bruce, I informed him that his complaint should be made to Genl. Howard Comr. Freedmen &c. It was a matter with which I had nothing to do. But if upon reference to Genl Howard he could get no redress Then I would forward his complaint to the Sec of War

Over

(K. 21. Mch./69.)

for such action or he thought should be taken to secure justice to the complainant.
Geo. H. Thomas
Maj Genl U.S.A.
Comdng D.C.

[[stamp]] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES [[/stamp]]

Freedmen's Bureau 
(file)
Rept. recd.  Mch. 30/69.
Addl. rept. recd. April 9/69.

War Department
Bureau Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands.
Washington, Mar 30 1869

Respectfully referred with statement that the subject matter of the within complaint was in the summer of 1868 referred to Brvt. Brig. Genl. S. Burbank, U.S.A. then Asst. Commissioner of Kentucky, for investigation and report, who caused an investigation to be made by Col. Runkle then his Act'g Asst. Inspector General.

It appears from his report that a full

[[stamp]] BUREAU R F & A L WASHINGTON. REC' D MAR 29 1869 [[/stamp]]

[[stamp]] BUREAU R F & A L WASHINGTON. REC' D APR 5 1869 [[/stamp]]

Examination of the alleged irregularities was made, that the complainant Griffith was notified to produce his witnesses, and ample opportunity given all parties to be heard. The evidence as reported did not sustain the charges, and the Inspector's report exonerated the officers implicated. The Commissioner has no knowledge or reason to believe that the investigation was partial or improperly conducted. If it is deemed of sufficient importance he will send an Inspector to Louisville to make further investigation, as Colonel Runkle is now the only officer on duty there.

O.O.Howard
[[checkmark]]

Bt. Maj. Genl. Commissioner.

EB
350
Vol 5 

Respectfully returned to the Commissioner for a statement of the particulars of the case and for the report of the investigation already had, if in his possession. 

By order of the
Secretary of War,

[[E Schriver?]]
Insp Genl.

War Dept.
March 31, 1869.

Transcription Notes:
1)Please note that we don't indicate underlined text with a tag anymore (i.e., don't use [[underlined]]) 2) I think the inspector general here Is Edmund Schriver -- Beth