Viewing page 35 of 270

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

7
and strength destroyed and life rendered a burden while the United States Government are amply able, and I hope willing, to grant us relief? While a just and necessary law of Congress is on the Statue Book, and only needs to be enforced, as by your General order No. 1? I trust in God it will not be so. Though all the old slave-holders in Chesterfield County, and all their friends and sympathizers in the South opposed it.

A competent judge, and one in high positions has counselled me to proceed against the County Court for damages. But is there any hope before a "Chesterfield jury"? Surely none. I ask not for any debt or any claim that I cannot now prove- but I am in a hurry, in haste, because of our present distress. We know not who will be next attacked in a murderous manner, and all my witnesses may soon be murdered. And many attempts have already been made to get that order of court out of my hands, so much so that I keep only a copy of it with me. I have been threatened with indictment for forgery to compel me to give it up, and told that there is no court record of it, and of course it had no force, &c. Also, there are many threats out against me, some of which have come to our ears, as the following - "If old Chase, a damned old Yankee, doesn't smell hell before Andrew Pucket gets out of jail, he will then", &c

Now, General Schofield, I am under the painful necessity  

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-10-12 08:16:19