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for a "guard": not meeting me they persuaded the "Sergt." of the company to furnish them two men under arms. To prevent bloodshed the "Sergeant" complied and placed the man in the guard house until he could obtain my orders in regard to it. After the adjournment of the "Court" the persons attending the same scattered in groups around the village, drinking, carousing &c. "Cursing the Nigger" and the "Contemptable Yankee" &c, &c.

The morning of the following day the Sheriff called for the prisoner and requested a guard to convey him to "Warwick County" jail. I told him that I did not consider it necessary, that there appeared to be no indication of an attempt for his rescue, and so long as there was no outbreak that I did not deem it consistent with my position to furnish U.S. Soldiers to convey prisoners from point to point for the Civil authorities.  The Sheriff then began to impress every white man he could find teams, horses, and arms and soon had a large number congregated; threats were thrown out without number of what they intended to do, &c. Action of this character could not but tend to fan into life the dormant passions of the "Freedmen"; its effect soon began to be apparent 

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-07-11 19:53:59