Freedmen's Bureau Records: Annie A. Dunn to Orlando
Brown, March 23, 1867
Summary:
Dunn contests her dismissal as teacher in Staunton and her transfer to North
Carolina by N.C. Brackett, the Superintendent of Schools for the Shenandoah
Valley. She claims that her dismissal is the direct result of evidence she gave
in the case related to the conduct of Frederick Tukey (her brother-in-law) and
George Cook, both Bureau Agents in Staunton. The students and parents of her
school would later sign a petition for her reinstatement.
Brevet Brigadier General O. Brown
Assistant Commissioner
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Richmond, Virginia
March 23rd 1867
Staunton, Virginia
Dear Sir,
Feeling that I have been unjustly dealt with in regard to School matters at this
place, and hoping you will pardon the liberty I take in thus addressing you upon
the subject, I have concluded to submit a plain statement of the facts in the
case, for your kind consideration. First then permit me to say that this is my
third year in the work, the first two being under the American Missionary Association and this, the third,
under the Baptist Home Mission Society and I think I can truly say that I have
labored as earnestly, and zealously, as perhaps any other teacher, and been as
deeply interested in the education of the freed children, as I possibly could
have been, and never to my knowledge has there been one word
[page 2]
of fault
found with me until now. And even now the Superintendent of the Schools here informs me, that he has no fault whatever to
find with me as a teacher. What then, may I ask, have I been guilty of, that
should cause my dismissal? - before answering this question however, permit me
to state the facts in the case, everything so far as I know, up to the time that
Captain McDonnell came here, was going on
smoothly, when I was called upon, in connection with all the rest of the
teachers, to state what I knew about Lieutenant
Cook's conduct while here, and my answers to the questions put to me,
necessarily cast some reflections not only upon him, but some of the teachers,
and perhaps the general conditions of the Schools - but I only answered such
questions as were asked me, volunteering nothing, and leaving out much that I
might have said.
Soon after the Captain left here, I receieved a letter
from the [unclear: rooms] at New York saying that Mr. Brackett had
informed them, that I could be spared from the Valley and assigning me to
Goldsboro North Carolina and saying that my
transportation would be forwarded in a few days. To this I immediately replied
requesting them to withhold my transportation a few days. In the meantime I had
a conversation with Mr. Brackett (the Superintendent)
[page 3]
in which he informed me of his action, but said he had found no
fault with me as a teacher, and the only reason he had given for my removal was
that some of the teachers had united against me on account of my evidence. I
then wrote to New York again stating to them that I
was twelve hundred miles from home, and was boarding with my Sister here, and I
thought it very hard to be sent away for no other offense than simply telling
the truth, which to answer my question, is the only crime of which I have been
accused. To this letter I received a response in substance saying that they had
been informed by Mr. Brackett that I was not needed here nor in the Valley.
Notwithstanding this, one new teacher has been brought here since, and one
school now stands adjourned for the want of a teacher. I was, as you will
readily see, forced either to go to Goldsboro, or give up my school. And in
deciding which to do, I took it into consideration that I was the only teacher
here that was here last year, and that I had a Sister here with whom I was
boarding, and not one of the others had any family connections here whatever.
And as I had been guilty of nothing for which to be transfered, painful as it
was to me, I could not make it appear to be my duty
[page 4]
to go. And now in
conclusion, I desire to know if you in your official capacity, cannot employ me
as a teacher, under the Auspices of the Bureau. If this is impossible, will the
Bureau furnish me with a building in which to teach, provided I do it
gratuitously? I had a very large school of 95 Pupils, and to which I had become
very much attached. Now if you can do me the favor to arrange matters so that I
can stay with it, you will place me under great obligations to you. Hoping to
hear from you at an early date.
I am Very Respectfully Yours,
Mrs. Annie A. Dunn
