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NARA 671

This payment be effected thro the kindly office of the Freedmans Bureau - The occasion of Mr Dobbins alarm probably grew out of the fact of ill feelings between himself and partner.

His accusations against myself are false and exhibits an illiberal and ingenerous disposition on his part. He very well knows, that my every act was to save him and his creditors, so far as possible, against loss. That by request I visited the plantation in question, and addressed the freedmen, telling them that while I would see them paid, would on the other hand exact of them increased efforts to gather and save the crop - this they promised me to do and, I am pleased to state that they have faithfully kept

over

their promises, while I shall not be able to fulfill mine. It was to have been hoped that the order of the Maj Genl Com'd'g 4th Military District directing that the claims against the present crop be paid in the order of their priority, to wit - Advances for provisions, Rent, labor &c. While it deprived the freedmen of all hope of ever receiving one dollar would at least have proven satisfactory to Mr Dobbins, particularly as he holds the rent note for Eight thousand ($8000.00) Dollars, which he purchased for thirty five Hundred ($3500.00)

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

[[stamp]] Freedman's Bureau State of Miss Received DEC 6 1867 [[/stamp]] B

E. & M. page 313.
Bureau Refugees, Freedmen &c.
Office Asst. Commr. for Miss.
Vicksburg, Dec. 6th 1867.

Respectfully returned to Bvt. Major Geo. S. Smith, Sub-Asst. Commr., with the remark that his action in this matter is approved by the Asst. Commr. The entire Crop of Dobbin and Hendrix will be holden if necessary to satisfy the wages of laborers for their labor this year and if a surplus of Mr. Hendrix share remains it will be held to satisfy the claims of laborers due last year. The attention of Maj. Smith is invited to provisions of enclosed order which gives preference to laborers for wages over all other claims.

By order of Bvt. Maj. Genl. A.C. Gillem
Asst. Commissioner
Merritt Barber
1st Lieut. 34th Infantry
A.A.A. General.

Transcription Notes:
Merritt Barber