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Lexington, Va, March 3rd, 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