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Prairie Lea Texas Dec 10/66
To the Agent
Freedmens Bureau
Texas

Dear Sir
The undersigned citizens of Caldwell County and vicinity, beg to represent that Prairie Lea is 40 miles from any Military Post, is without any agent of the Freedmens Bureau accessible is surrounded by a densely settled population composed of Freedmen engaged in agriculture — That said Freedmen are being greatly oppressed, maltreated and wronged for the want of protection.

1st A reign of terror is being inaugurated among them by Rebels
2. There is a class of gamblers who are inveigling them into bets and winning their money and property.
3. They are in many instances wronged in the settlement of there interest in the crop wages &c —
4. They are chased frequently around the streets on horseback with six shooters drawn on them and by way of variety shot at occasionally 
5 The 8th inst a Freedmen was publickly whipped for the enormous sin of adressing a young man as Tom instead of Mas. Tom. 
6 If protection cannot be given to these people the time is not distant when assinations will be the order of the day. 

Transcription Notes:
inveigle = persuade (someone) to do something by means of deception or flattery. #3 ending and "ie" probably wrong It's &c which means etc.