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assigned to him would often be selected on account of their gross ignorance and peculiar unfitness for duty in his Dep't. Enlisted men in charge of Freedmen stores, and Superintendents of Plantations, and Officers in charge of Home Farms committed all sorts of petty crimes; made false ration returns - drew more rations that there were freedmen to supply - starved the people under their charge and appropriated the rations - stole money outright from the stores - swindled, cheated and abused these people in every way. Notwithstanding all these fraudulent and cruel acts they were watched night and day, and arrested and tried by Courts Martial upon the first shadow of suspicion; dishonably dismissed the service, and there were several cases brought to my notice where they were punished by confinement in Military Prisons and condemned to hard labor for a term of years.

There is no evidence that Col. Eaton had a desire to prevent the arrest and punishment of Officers or men suspected of fraud, or to suppress or avoid an investigation of his official acts and administration of Freedmens Affairs in the Mississippi Valley, or that he was ever known to advise the acceptance of the resignation of any Officer suspected of illegal or corrupt proceedings, or that he ever showed a disposition to protect and screen guilty parties. I looked into this matter quite thoroughly and with the expectation of finding out some terrible transactions on his part. I had my labor for nothing, and I have the honor to state for your information that