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Nashville December 11th 1865-

Col. A.P. Blunt,
 
The Petition of the heirs of my grandfather Jno. McPhail deceased is about to be presented to you, asking to be allowed Rent for the Warehouse belonging to his Estate & occupied by the Government. I am advised that proof is on hand of the Status of the other heirs, and suppose I ought now to set forth my own. I have been from the inception of the late infernal Rebellion, am now and expect ever to be, what is termed an "Unconditional Union Man," by which I mean I hold that one splendid American Nationality must be preserved whatever it cost; whatever else may perish. I remained in Nashville during the [[strikethrough]] war [[/strikethrough]] dark days of Rebel Dominion here, never pretending to sympathise with treason, & known to all who knew me at all as a "Lincolnite." Upon the advent of the National Army in 1862, my Father in law being appointed U.S. Attorney here, I assisted him, being the active party of the two, the duties of the office being to file information against Rebel Property & to draw up Indictments against Traitors. On my Father in law's resignation I became Clerk of the U.S. District Court which office together with that of U.S. Commissioner I now hold. I wish to have Jeff Davis hung in this world & damned in the next. I could easily get certificates of Gov. Brownlow & other prominent