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March 16, 1866.

Miss Wood.
I have been requested to hand you the paper hereto annexed, setting forth the proceedings of the Common Council of the town with reference to your case. As a member of the Council and as a citizen of the town, I beg leave to repeat in this form, the assurance I gave you verbally this afternoon that such conduct as that referred to meets with the most honest and thorough condemnation and denunciation of every citizen with whom I have conversed. If you have had cause to complain heretofore of any occurrence of a lawless nature, I regret that you did not, through some one, make complaint to some of the town authorities, any one of whom (I am sure) would have been prompt to render you redress.

However much your people and ours (I speak geographically) may differ upon questions of social reform, there are, I trust few citizens of Virginia calling themselves gentlemen who would be willing to see a lady subjected to wrong or insult, without being ready to offer her protection.

There are lawless youths in every community. It is not just to judge the community itself by their conduct. I hope you will not in this case. 

Yours &c
J. W. Brooke

A true copy
Wm. A. MacNulty
2nd Lieut V.R.C & Asst Supt Freedmen