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Lexington Va. 13 April 1867

Captain

In reply to your letter of the 12 Inst: I have to state that on hearing of the disturbance which had occurred at the Freedmen's school in Lexington on the ev'g of the 22nd Ulto: & that Mess'rs Flewellen, Terry, Hardiman, W. Wellborn, students of Washington College, had been tried by the Mayor on the charge of having produced it:  these young gentlemen were summoned before the Faculty, & appeared accompanied by Mr. J.A. McNeill also a student of the College.

Mr. McNeill said he had come to declare that he was alone to blame for what had occurred & that the other students were innocent.  He stated that he had  [[strikethrough]] gone [[/strikethrough]]heard that a speech was to be delivered at the Freedmen's church that night, & that he with some others had gone there to hear it; but finding the church vacant, they went to the school supposing it might take place there.  On arriving at the School House & approaching a window to ascertain whether there was any speaking in the room, he was rudely accosted by a Freedman, who cursed him & made a motion as if to draw a pistol; upon which he drew a pistol with which he was armed & attempted to chastise him, but finally desisted & withdrew.

This statement having been verified by the others, the Faculty resolved that Mr. McNeill should be dismissed from the College, & as nothing had been proved against  the 

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