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June 10th, 1867
Genl John Schofield

Sir
   Excuse me for saying that unless the military interpose to prevent negroes violating their contracts the crop prospects for the year must be severely impaired.  They make engagements for the year and without scruple or regard to the interest of the employer break them at a time when the injury to him is the greatest.  They have been taught to know that the remedy given by law is ineffectual and hence that there is no real new possibility.  Attracted by the [[?]] offers of high wages made [[strikeout]] offered [[/strikeout]] by the agents of railroad and mining contractors, they abandon the farmer in the midst of his crop and leave him to shift as he can.  At the beginning of the year I hired a lot of laborers and as regard with January arranged my operations for the year according to the number.  Early in the Spring, just as working season had opened, one of them walked off leaving a message with the others that he did not intend to return, and he did not.  On Sunday last another did likewise, through upon the faith of certain laborers I had incurred the expense of buying and applying expensive manures, thus leaving me on hand a large crop of wheat, corn and tobacco, with all the loss of time in procuring others and all the uncertainty of success, and I have not succeeded as yet after the lapse of a week.  That there are laborers it is true but they refuse to be employed, preferring to live by plunder.  For though I offer good wages I cannot hire, but my most honor has

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