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Hd Qrs 4th Sub Dist
Gordonsville Va
Oct 6th 1868.
Respectfully forwarded to Maj M.S. Hopkins ASAC &c
Wm R Morse
ASC 4th Sub Dist

Bureau RF&AL
Office A.S.A.C. 1st D. 4th S.D. Va
Gordonsville Oct 10th/68.
Respectfully returned to Maj. W. R. Morse with enclosed endorsement within called for. I could not get the letter of Mrs Johnson on which the endorsement was made. From the date of my endorsement (which was made hurriedly out of my office and therefore a copy not kept) her school must have closed soon after it was made.

I enclose two letters from Mrs. Johnson and a copy of a letter I recently wrote to Miss Lottie Moon all of which will throw light on the matter. I tried before as I said to get a copy of my endorsement to Mrs. Johnson, on which she framed or pretended to frame such extraordinary expectations, but I did not succeed. I could not get any reply from Miss Moon and I am not likely to get any reply to the enclosed letter to her as I have already waited long enough. She is I take it one of those vixinish rebel females well known to every officer who has served long in the South So I look for nothing but spite from her.

You will see that I made no promises to pay Mrs. Johnson. I don't believe Lt. Higgs did. After making my endorsement on her letter (which I enclose) I never heard anything more of her or her school till I received Miss Moon's letter. From all I can learn she taught a small school for about six months and the freedmen did not give her much for it. No doubt she expected the Bureau (about which most freedmen as well as other persons have very extravagant notions) to pay her but she had no right to do so.

I am of the opinion that as it is evident to me that she has lied about the promises &c. as set forth in Miss Moon's letter, and as her abilities as a teacher are very limited with regard to qualifications, the funds of the Bureau can be expended to better advantage than in paying her. I sent her five dollars the other day and have no objection to an appropriation being made for her if it is thought best.

M. S. Hopkins
A.S.A.C. 1st & 3d D. 4th S.D. Va.
E&M 3.V.133-135./68

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