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shot, one it is thought mortally, and the past experience with Rockbridge Counts of Justice in their dilatoriness in arresting and ready acquittal of offenders demonstrate fully that some one should be at Lexington to watch after the interests of the freedmen. Captain Sharp was absent during the latter part of December and the outrages against the freedmen are doubtless attributable to that. I would regard the true interests of the service as requiring the presence of the Military Commissioner and Bureau Agent both at Lexington. Citizens with whom I conversed expressed same opinion and hoped the Mil. Commr. would be sent there.
There are no complaints of destitution. Wages have been good as a rule, though Major Sharp anticipates from the freedmen many complaints for non fulfillment of contracts by their employers.
The Lexington Schools are in as flourishing condition as at any time previous, yet there is little apparent interest exhibited elsewhere in the division. Bath and Alleghany counties have so sparse colored population that there can be at no time under existing laws a concentrated effort for educational purposes. An occasional plantation Sunday school is about 

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