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and should, in my opinion be a station for troops, a detatchment of 6th U. S. Cav. was ordered to report to me in Octr. (ordered away after a sojourn of ten days) during their stay my business was conducted in a more regular manner, and the Freed-people feel more secure in the enjoyment of the rights granted them by the Civil Rights Bill, since their departure and owing to the torpor that permeates functionaries of the civil law, I have failed to bring culprits to trial, cases before the corportion and Justices of the Peace prove conclusively to me that the Freed-people will not have justice done them outside the strong arm of the military authorities.
[[left margin]] Freedpeople insecure at night in their enjoyment of parties &c [[/left margin]]
In all towns of this size there are to be found many bad characters, having no legitimate means of support, generally gamblers, rowdies and hangers-on about groceries, I regret to say that there are many such here and scarcely at night passes that some outrage is not committed by these parties, Freed-people have little or no protection in the enjoyment of their evenings, their parties, gatherings and weddings are disturbed, and a fear of the consequences prevent their reporting them to this office; in investigating occurrences of this nature that reach me clandestinely, I have considerable trouble to get the particulars, the Freed-people all say "wait until you get troops and we will tell

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-04-16 13:23:59