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029

Hampton, Sept. 14, 1865.

Whereas it has been represented at the Freedmans Bureau in Richmond, for the evident purpose of injuring me:

1st: That I was an active, leading politician before the War;

2d  That I was an original [[?]] secessionist, & devoting all my energy & influence to bring about a dissolution of the Union, taking an active, prominent part in the same;

3d  That I entered the Army at the beginning of the War & fought against the U.S. forces;

4  That, I had a contract to furnish Genl. Magruder's Army with bread at Yorktown;

5th  That I ran off all my slaves & sold them;

Now, therefore I call upon my fellow citizens generally to bear testimony as to whether these statements are facts.

F.A. Schmelz

We the undersigned citizens of Elizabeth City County, Virginia, state, as an act of justice to our fellow citizen, F.A. Schmelz, that we have read the charges above stated, & from our own knowledge & observation; & from the best sources of information we are satisfied that the charges are without foundation.

Chas K Mallory
James Barron Hope
W.R. Willis
Wm. S. Howard

I know well James Barron Hope Esqr. Wm R. Willis Esqr. [[strikethrough]] and [[/strikethrough]] Wm S. Howard Esqr. and Colo: Charles K Mallory -, whose names are signed above, and take