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0712

7

riot was by the exertions of the officer above referred to prevented from [[strikethrough]] did not [[/strikethrough]] actually acquiring headway.

The negroes in the neighborhood are represented by the most respectable white citizens as orderly and industrious also that no collision between the races or other disturbance had occurred before the arrival of the Company above mentioned. A number of [[strikethrough]] such [[/strikethrough]] slight collisions had already [[strikethrough]] before [[/strikethrough]] taken place between these soldiers and the negroes, and it is believed that some of that command have inimical feelings towards the freedmen, while the latter declare that they are in fear of their lives by reason of threats and from the spirit shown in former ill treatment on the part of [[strikethrough]] the [[/strikethrough]] some of these soldiers.

[[strikethrough]] I do not supp [[/strikethrough]] The only commissioned officer with the Company is a gentleman of undoubted ability and character but who has [[strikethrough]] only [[/strikethrough]] served in the line only a few months and is unused to the command of troops. The Company has the reputation of being [[strikethrough]] more than [[/strikethrough]] difficult of control having gained some notoriety in that respect at City Point. In my opinion a change in the Company stationed at the Post or at least a change in the commanding officer by the presence of one of the older commissioned officers would be desirable to prevent a recurrence of a similar riot which in the explosive state of the population is always liable to have much more serious results than was the case in this instance.