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I mentioned in my Nov. Report that a Mr. Sawyer, formerly a private of the 8th Regiment Connecticut Vols. had purchased land at Pedlar Mills, Amherst Co & commenced erecting a school house & that the citizens had pulled it down. I visited the place but was unable to learn the names of the perpetrators of the outrage. Mr. Sawyer has commenced to rebuild. I saw one of the Magistrates of the District & informed him if the Civil Authorities would not protect Mr. Sawyer, the Military would & upon his promise that the outrage should not be repeated, told him I would let the matter rest for the present. The feeling existing between the races is good, except in certain localities, on the subject of education, where there is an intensely bitter feeling against all attempts to educate the Freedpeople, particularly when the teachers are Northern men.
I am General
Very Respectfully
Your obt. Svt
Louis Stevenson
2d Lt. V.R.C. & Asst. Supt.