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Sept 29th 1865

Prof Ogden, 

Sir:-

Having in conformity with orders from you, proceeded on a tour of inspection through the southwestern portion of the county of Davidson, for the purpose of selecting the most advantageous points at which to establish Freedmen's schools, I have the honor herewith to submit my Report of the same. The enclosed list of names will show you upon whom I called. The first of these was General Harding, who lives 5 miles west of Nashville, on the Harding pike. He employs 100 Freedmen, all of whom are very anxious to to enter upon this - to them - novel phase of life. The Gen. is as cool as an iceberg on the subject, says they may have a school but that he can do nothing toward it. The Blacks on the place say that there is an unoccupied house there which might be used as a schoolroom, but the Gen. emphatically denies the existence of any such building. In order to open a school there it will be necessary to find a teacher who is willing to board among the Blacks and sleep in the house in which he teaches. If the Gen. can be prevailed upon to donate the building referred to the teacher can furnish one of the rooms for his private studio. A mile further on the same road I called upon Mrs. Maj. Huddleston - the Maj. being absent - Here I found 17 Blacks who will attend the school at Gen. Harding's. Also some few in the employ of the Mr De Moss, Dr Carter Mr Colton and others of that neighborhood, making in all a school of 130 or 40 scholars. I would next recommend a place called "Govt. Mills" on the Nashville and Centre