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Office Asst. Com'r. If the claims against the present crop are to be paid in the order of their priority as designated "two bucks" advances for Provisions, Rent, labor." then the freedmen will get very little if any thing for their labor this year. to guard against which was more especially the purpose of my order to Mr Hendrix — To place the crop in the hands of a securer would render more certain the freedmen not [[strikethrough]] getting [[/strikethrough]] being paid at all. I am at a loss to know how but to ask to secure the freedmen who are working for stipulated wages their pay and request further instruction.

Geo S. Smith
Capt Bt Maj Sub Asst Com'r


Barber M, Lieut & AAAG
Endorsement on communication from May 2nd A.C. Gillem directing investigation and report in the Case of Ragg v.s. Bateman & Raney.

Office Bureau R.F. & A.L.
Sub Dist of Macon
Macon Miss Nov 22nd
Respectfully returned to Lieut Merritt Barber A.A.A Genl
Bureau R F & A L with respect in this case enclosed.
Geo. S. Smith
Capt Bt Maj Sub Asst Com'r


Barber M, Lieut & AAAG
Endorsement on Communication from J.L. Nance Attorney for Stepn Nance

Office Bureau R.F. & A.L.
Sub. Dist of Macon
Macon Miss Dec 5th/67
J.L. Nance Atty for Stephen Nance. States that as Atty for Stephen Nance suit against C. Nance Administrator on an open account for about three hundred $300.00 Dollars for work done in 1865. thus at the last term of the court the plaintiff ruled to give security for cost of suit within sixty days. which he is unable 

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to do. Ask that the matter to be settled by the Bureau.

Office Bureau R.F. & A.L.
Sub Dist of Macon
Macon Miss Dec 2 1867
Respectfully forwarded to Lieut Barber.
A A.A. Gen'l for his order in the premises.
Geo. S. Smith
Capt Bt Maj Sub Ass't Com'r

Barber M, Lieut & AAAG

Endorsement on letter of Dr. W. D. Dobbins to Genl Ord. reflecting upon Bt Maj Geo S. Smith Sub Asst Comm'r & complaining that serious threats had been made to burn down his Gin House, by some and white persons &c.

Office Bureau R.F. & A.L.
Sub Dist of Macon
Macon Miss Dec 2d 1867

Respectfully returned to Lieut Merritt Barber, A.A.A.Genl Bu R.F. & A.L. with the information that their is now no necessity (if their ever was) for a guard in this case.
I am unsure to believe that Dr. Dobbins or any "one" of the whites (their was no whites interested save Dobbins and Hendrix his partner, and their creditors) ever contemplated so great a crime as that of burning a Gin House, in the possable event of freedmen being paid for their honest labor, even though this payment be effected thru the kindly office of the Freedmens Bureau.  The occasion of Mr. Dobbins alarm probably grew out of the fact of ill feeling between himself and his partner.  His accusation against myself are false and exhibit an illiberal and ingenuous disposition on his part. He very well knows that my every act was to save him and his creditors as far as possible from loss. That by request I visited the plantation in question and admired the freedmen. Telling others that while I would see them paid, would on the other hand exact of them measured efforts to gather, and sow the crop.  This they

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-05-28 21:48:39 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-05-28 23:25:09 transcription incomplete, several unknown words ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-05-29 13:04:43