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Office Asst. Supt. Warwick Co. Va.
Newport News April 30th 1866.

Genl S. C. Armstrong
Superintendent 9th Dist. Va.
Fort Monroe Va.

Genl.
I have the honor to report the affairs of the Freedmen of this county are in a very prosperous State generally.
 
I some time ago experienced a great deal of trouble and anoyance to disabuse the minds of the Freedmen in regard to their standing in the community at the present time, as there have been persons through the county to poison their minds, conspicuous among which there was a Mr. Pepper telling them that all lands in the Rebellious States belonged to the Government, and would be turned over to them, and that, They should not leave any of the lands, and residences of former proprietors the orders of any agent of the Bureau not withstanding. So that in some cases where lands were restored to former proprietors, the Freedmen refused to leave the Private residences, and military force had to be used to eject them although the fairest of terms were offered them by these land holders.

Now I am happy to state, that having taken considerable pains to instruct the Freedmen in their proper standing, that they now appear to be willing    

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-24 11:47:07 corrected minor typos and punctuation ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-25 17:13:52