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Lawrenceville, Va.
Nov:, 17th 1865 -

Capt Mercer,
Asst Supt &c Brunswick Co. Va.

Sir:

I acted as secretary to the Public Meeting held at Lawrenceville, Brunswick, Co. H. Va, on the 31st of May 1865.  I herewith file the original draft of the proceedings thereof, & respectfully submit the following statement of the circumstances under which it was held:

The county lies within hearing of the guns fired at Petersburg.  Lee, defeated & pursued, had surrendered on the 9th of April.  Sheridan's cavalry had passed through the county on the 25th, 26th & 27th of April.  Sherman's columns had passed through about the middle of May.

Agriculture could not thrive amid events like these.  Two-thirds of the horses & mules in the county were carried off - plantations were pillaged and plundered.  The labourers were wandering about in idleness & amazement.

Matters were in this condition when Major Bailey, the first commandant of the county, came here the latter part of May, & encamped with a provost guard at the Court House.  He called together the magistrates of the county on the 31st day of May, and invited some half-dozen private citizens to be present.  He read the instructions he