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[[left margin]]Sternberg Francis.
A.S.A. Comr.[[/left margin]]

Additional endorsement on the letter of Francis Sternberg S.A.C. dated Thibodeaux La. Jan. 28, 1858. S. 131.
Which was forwarded to the A.A.A. Gen. Bu &c for La. by by Lieut G.H. Clements, S.A.C. dated New Orleans, La. Jan. 31, 1868.
And was referred by the Asst Commissioner of La to Assistant Commissioner of Texas, dated New Orleans, La. Feb. 5, 1868.
And was referred to Jas. P. Butler S.A.C. Hunstvill, Texas dated Austin, Texas February 12, 1868.
And was returned by him dated Huntsville Texas, February 17, 1868 endorsed as follows.

Respectfully returned to Francis Sternberg Esq Asst Sub Asst Comr B.R.F.&A.L. Thibodeaux La. thro Head Quarters Bureau R.F.& A.L. State of Texas with the following information. I received the first communication in regard to the within mentioned boy on Nov 12th 1867. He was then living one hundred miles from my office, outside my sub. Dist.  I was obliged to procure a horse and send a soldier all that distance for the boy and Mr. Oldhausen, as I had previously sent a communication to him, which did not reach him, and brought Mr. Oldhausen to my office.

I investigated the case and found the allegation set forth in the first communication, which justice to Mr. Oldhausen, compel me to say, are entirely false. 

Mr. Oldhausen never employed the boy but he was set free and left on his hands. The boy stated to me that no person ever came to take him to his father.

When I informed him, that he had better go to his father he commenced to cry, and said that he would not go back, he wanted to stay with Mr. Oldhausen, that he never abused him. Mr. O. stated that he never tried to retain him but on several occasions tried to send him to his father. I ascertained further that the boy is simply an errand boy around the house, and if Mr. O had ever supposed that he would have to pay monthly wages for him he would not have had him with him. The fifty dollars which I collected for him was all that he deserved, and more than I should have been willing to pay under the circumstances. 

I am constrained to say that after hearing all the facts and investigating the case thoroughly I consider myself the best judge of what was properly due the boy.

In regard to my sending the boy from this place in charge of an irresponsible person (Mr. Jones) and "that 

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person abandoning him at Galveston to shift for himself without money or victuals", and that "the $50.00 was not satisfactorily accounted for" I condemn as an utter falsehood, and as an injury to my official character. The boy was no more competent to travel to New Orleans alone than a child just born, for he had been raised in the live woods. While I was waiting for an opportunity to send him by some person, Bvt Col W.H. Sinclair, Inspector for the Bureau of the State of Texas, came here. I made him acquainted with the facts of the case, and he also ascertained for himself the veracity of my statement. I concluded to send the boy by him on his return, but on returning he had to change his course and could not take him. 

I then had to avail myself of the next best opportunity but a short time subsequent, Mr. Jas H. Jones, was going to New Orleans, and I though that a good opportunity to send him. Mr. Jones is a responsible person is the publisher of a newspaper in this City, and has property here. I handed Mr. Jones thirty six dollars to pay the boy's expenses to New Orleans, the other fourteen dollars I used in purchasing a suit of clothes for the boy as per receipt enclosed. Mr. Jones cared for the boy as far as Galveston, and on arriving there he concluded to go no further so he purchased the boy's passage to New Orleans and put him in charge of a person on the steamer with whom he was acquainted. He also after paying all the boy's expenses from Huntsville to New Orleans, gave the boy thirteen dollars and told him to put it in his pocket "and let no person see it until he arrived at his father's." 

All these facts Mr. Jones testifies to and I cannot doubt his veracity. The man who had him in charge on the Steam boat delivered him at Headquarters at New Orleans. 

What became of the thirteen dollars which was given to him I am unable to say, but I presume he did not know the value of it and spent it foolishly, just as he would have done with the thirty six dollars, if I had sent him on his own hook.

This is a full and equitable statement of the case and if it does not fully vindicate my official character, I shall then demand an investigation."

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