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Farmville
Prince Edward Co., Va.,
July 31st 1868.

Maj Genl. O.O. Howard.
Comr-Bureau R. F and A. L. 
My Dear General,
I have the honor very respectfully to solicit an appointment in your department in this section of Virginia. I settled in this county in May 1865 after being honorably discharged from Co. M. 7th Mich. Cav. At that time I purchased and paid for a farm of 415 acres. After putting improvements to the value of $500 on the farm and when I had a crop of 4 stacks of Oats 40,000 hills of tobacco and 30 acres of corn I was ejected from the premises by the rebel court of our county - the only arrangement of any force which was made to the jury being that I was "one of that band of Yankee marauders whom hands were reeking red with  the blood of their brave Virginia boys, who went through their country burning their houses and barns, stealing their provisions and valuables and insulting their wives and daughters." I am still litigating in the Court of Appeals in the hope that loyal reconstruction will give me what can never be got under rebel rule - protection of person and property.