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Lexington Va. March 3d 1866.

Hon. J.F. Starr,

Dear Sir,
Dont think me presumptuous in penning these few lines to you, and I trust I will not be intruding upon your valuable time by doing so. I have been in this place just one month and my experience has been a peculiar one. When I came here, I learned that the students of the Washington College (of which R.E. Lee of rebel fame is President) and the Cadets of the Military Institute were in the habit of insulting the teachers of colored schools, that are here from the North, and also insulting the officers on duty here. I made up my mind I would tolerate no such insults; and the first I received was from some small boys, whom I caused to be arrested and bound over by the town authorities. But the Cadets finally tried their hand, and I walked to them to know who had shouted after me, of course they would not tell, and I told them my opinion of them in a few words and added that the man who would insult another & not own it, was no gentleman, but a scoundrel. They (two of them) flew upon me and struck me several times, but my pistol soon caused them to retreat. Had I shot, it would have been death on the spot, for a large crowd had gathered around us, in which a man of my cloth, could find little sympathy. 

But I told the mob I did not fear them, and that I would not let any of them insult me. I told them I have been a soldier. I had fought them all. I knew how & would do it again, & if they wanted to hang me, or any thing of that kind, they could begin just then. I went to my office, and the Mayor of the town, (and ex rebel Col.) arrested one of boys, & bound him over to keep the peace. That was all the striking of U.S. officer amounted to, in their estimation. But a report of the whole affair, has been forwarded by me to 

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