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Richmond Va. Aug 9th, 1866

Maj. General A. H. Terry
Ass't Comr. Bureau R. F. and A.L.

General 
In obedience to S.O. No 119 dated 2nd inst. from your Headquarters, I proceeded to Accomac County and made Inspection of Bureau Affairs. In the following Report I have in every instance, evidence from white Citizens, and generally from those in civil office, as authority for the facts stated.

On the 28th of June last, a colored man named Charles Cranch assaulted a white man named Bird, at the house of the latter. It is also alleged, that there was an attempt at robbery by the Colored man Cranch, who escaped on Mr. Bird making alarm, and has not since been heard of. 

There is a rumor that he has been caught and hung by a party of "Lynchers, but I do not rely upon that rumor. It is however, certain, that Mr. Bird did not for three weeks, complain to the proper civil authorities, the magistrate of the County, but offered a pecuniary reward for the capture of Cranch, and a large band of white Citizens with arms searched for him without warrant. On the pretense of this search, the gang broke into the houses of many colored men and took away all arms and ammunition found. This was done both at night and in the daytime. Negroes were shot at, and driven away in some instances, and in others, they were held by overpowering numbers with knives to their throats until they told where their arms were secreted. Their chests were broken open, and the plunder did not stop at the arms, but, other articles were taken

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