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Chesterfield, Va. May 18. 1867.

To General J. M. Schofield.

Hon. Sir.
Nothing but the most pressing necessity — a state closely bordering on despair, would induce me to trouble you with a matter requiring the exercise of a power that every true friend of freedom will regret to invoke. Some weeks since I presented this matter to you in writing, though I did not see you.  It was then concluded that if a "Chesterfield Court and jury" did not properly and fairly administer the laws of this State, a military tribunal should be appointed in my case. Not having retained a copy of my former communication to you, I must begin anew. 

Myself and family are natives of the State of Maine, and I emigrated to this State more than ten years since to avoid an approaching consumption, of which the doctors said I was in certain danger. For four years and a half before the war, things went along pleasantly — but upon the breaking out of the war there was a change. We were poor, — and had no other home than a little farm in this County, which could not be sold at that time — of course we could not leave at the time offered in proclamation for that purpose. My oldest son, then just arrived at military age, soon joined the "Confederate army" to save the family. I procured a detail for him to work in the Navy Yard, by furnishing tools and

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-10-12 08:32:54 to correct a capitalization.