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freed people at the present time.
Very many complaints have been made against Col. Eaton by parties whose names it is not necessary to mention. He has been attacked upon all sides since leaving the valley, and charges innumerable preferred against him. Very many of these charges are extremely frivolous and it will be superfluous to recite them, while others are of the most serious character, and if substantiated would subject the Colonel to the severest punishment.
I will first give you the charges against the Colonel in regular order — that is — those brought to my notice and which I consider important, and will give you the result of my investigation of each charge. I will then, in order to make my report more complete and satisfactory to you, commence at Vicksburg, Miss. which is the point where Col. Eaton was stationed when placed in charge of the entire valley and where the present policy which is being pursued along the Mississippi River was first adapted. By giving you a careful history of the freedmen in the Districts of Vicksburg, Natchez, Little Rock and West Tennessee, and by giving a clear and truthful account of their condition now and what they are doing to support themselves, and what is being done for their welfare and prosperity, you will then understand the magnitude of the work which Col. Eaton has had in charge, and something of the grave responsibilities which have been thrown upon him and can decide at once whether his labor for more than two years among these