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Humbug "the Freedmens Bureau which the Yankees had inserted as a wedge to separate the Freedmen from their dear friends and protectors the "Southern gentlemen," who had beaten the Yankees on every battle field during the war and could still beat said Yankees in [[?]].

He expressed as his opinion that when that "great" and "good" man "Rob. E. Lee" surrendered to "Ulysses S. Grant" if every "yankee blue coat" had then retired to the other side of the Potomac and left the people here to manage their own affairs it would have been better — As the very "intelligent" southern gentlemen" who composed the Court & Jury imposed very light punishments in two of the cases they doubtless considered the argument of the ex rebel Genl to be a sound one and it is to be hoped that the Freedmen will get Justice in the civil courts, "even as a matter of Policy.

I am very respectfully
Your obedient servant
Saml W Carpenter
Capt. 16th Reg. V.R.C. and Asst. Supt.