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Sub District a great many Colored Soldiers who on being Mustered out of Service retained their Arms, having them now in their possession they frequently use them unnecessarily, going about hunting on lands without permission and. The carrying of Arms by Freedmen, is strongly objected to by the Whites who hold that he has no rights to keep five arms. This of itself often engenders bad feelings as almost every Freedman has in his possession an old gun or pistol on which he relies for protection in case of danger although in many cases the piece utterly worthless. From my short experience in this Sub District I believe the foregoing to be an accurate discription of the present State of Affairs. It is evident to the most casual observer that there is an utter want of confidence & kind feelings on the part of the races to each other there is no apparent sympathy or common interest between the parties 
Very respectfully
Your obt Servt
Ed. Murphy
1st Lieut 10th. Regt V.R.C
Asst Supt 

Through Office Supt 5th [[?]] Va.

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-05 12:03:30 too many [[?]]s to be marked for review, and when marked for review the first time nothing on page had been transcribed at all, pls read instructions