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Office Sub Asst Com'r Bu RF & AL Texas Dallas Feb 12 1868 Lieut J P Richardson Actg Asst Adjt General Bu RF & AL Texas Austin Texas Lieut I have the honor to forward a document which in part assumes to be a petition to the Comd'g General. It was handed to me by the County clerk on the departure of my detachment of U.S. Troops. As it is an emphatic acknowledgement of the utter powerlessness of the Civil Authorities to protect themselves, much less execute the laws when opposed or even to throw any protection around a Gov" official I forward it for your information. It is on indisputable fact that the civil authorities are under a perfect state of terrorism & in important cases dare not carry out the law for fear of provoking the ire of the Rebels & bringing down their vengeance upon them. This fact cannot be gainsaid With a feeling in keeping with the certificate enclosed, the Civil Authorities came to me & begged me to leave & retire to Kaufman & remain with Lt Lincoln until Troops could be supplied here. It is an incontrovertible fact that troops are, perhaps, more needed in this district than in any other in the State. The feeling on the part of the Rebels is positively hellish Last Saturday Judge Bledsoe County Judge appeared at Scyene 8 miles from Dallas to meet an engagement to speak. He is the Union delegate to (over)