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NARA 543

De Kalb, Oct 9th 1866

Capt H. E. Ranials

Dear Sir

I rec'd the report I send you last night & your letter stating that I had made some errors in filling [[strikethrough]] it [[strikethrough]] out the one I sent. I therefore have filled up this one & wish you to correct if for me & return so I can learn where I made the errors & rectify them hereafter I have never had anything of the kind to do before, nor did I have any one who could tell me if I was right or wrong You ask if in my efforts to establish a school I met with any opposition, you could expect nothing else I met with no violence or anything of that sort, but ridicule & sneers and scoffs at my scholars & myself were bestowed with no lavish hand. I was considered as not only disgracing myself but my whole family by teaching a "freed school" Some rude boys did come round the house one day whooping & making a great noise but I soon put an end to it by threatening to shoot them. I knew if I did not stand firm I would see no future peace for them. Since that time they have kept away I think too some of the first bitterness against educating the Freedmen is being worn away but still I have very bitter enemies on this account in De Kalb  Many say I have placed myself on an equality with the "free negroes" and are no better than they.

I have just had a question put to me by a Freedman who is living on my land, that you 

Transcription Notes:
Asst comm = H. E. Rainals (addressee misspelled) ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-04-01 09:53:50 because more than 2 [?] remain