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being daily misrepresented and I feared that these false statements made against me by Blair Miller Currie and others would get up an excitement, in which I would be in danger of my life, as you will notice the threats made against me by Miller and others on the very night of Miller’s arrest, as detailed in the evidence taken by Capt. Bradford. 

Whereupon I requested the assistance of ten citizens (freedmen) to protect me, against any violence from this party; at 6 o'clock P.M. these freedmen reported to me, I armed them and loaded their guns, taking no more amunition than were in said guns.  Told them to behave themselves to black and white, do no injury to anyone or property for which they had no order - A few minutes afterward Blair, Col. Stweart and this same J.C. Miller came to me, and Miller again approached me in regard to my duty - wanted to know why I was arming "Niggers" and said if you expect to run over me, "allow me to say to you sir that you can't nor shan't do it" his manner of address was very ungentlemanly and abruptly sustaining his bragging speech with oaths - John Blair asked my intention for having a guard, I told him for my own protection, as I had no soldiers - Said Miller again remarked in the same strain, that I needed no protection & that damned niggers should not be armed and that no bureau agent