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Lynchburg Va Sept 20th 1866

Learning from Dabney Callaway that it is his intention to proceed to Washington City for the purpose of applying at head quarters for relief from the action of the Freedman's Bureau in Lynchburg in the matter of finding out the grand child of his wife, and being requested by him to state our knowledge of his ability to maintain said child, we cheerfully say that in our opinion no colored man is better able to provide well for his family physically and morally than Dabney. He is the rentor the present year of two farms of several hundred acres each upon which he has worked a considerable force and made a respectable crop, he is also a rough carpenter and realizes considerably from this source. He has several grown sons with him who are all anxious to prevent what they consider an outrage on their rights and to contribute if necessary to the support of the child in question. Dabney is likewise a man so far as we know of good moral character, and a member of the Baptist Church. Under the civil laws of this state we are certain the application to bind out the negro in question would have been unsuccessfull and we doubt not with the evidence adduced by Dabney the Department will restore to him his child. In conclusion the