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Headquarters Lexington Va
Nov. 18th 1865

Respectfully returned, with the information, that the undersigned was not present at the time the alleged "facts" occurred in Rockbridge County, and by reference to the Records in the "Provost Marshal's Office" and enquiry made of citizens of Lexington, I can not perceive that injustice has been done. Nor am I able to understand that a "Negro" is entitled to a "trial by Jury" "in accordance with the laws of "Virginia", and would also state, that no negro has ever been tried by a "Court Martial" or "Military Commission," since the occupation of this post, by the forces of the "United States".
 
The writer of the petition, the Revd W.F. Junkins, who it appears wrote the names of at least nine of the petitioners, is a worthy Divine, who in 1861 deserted his congregation, and volunteered as a private in a Company of "Guerillas", and from all I can learn of his present "status", his Loyalty is extremely questionable. The gentlemen whose names are associated with the worthy minister, may be classed, (as to Loyalty) in the same category. They all reside from six to fifteen miles