Freedmen's Bureau Records: Abner Harrison to Thomas
P. Jackson, July 19, 1867
Summary:
Although now residing in Tennessee, Harrison writes to Jackson to find out
whether or not Jackson has the power to pursue a case in which Harrison was not
able to collect payment for some land he sold near Middlebrook before the war,
because he refused to accept Confederate money. His letter details the
circumstances of the matter, and asks for help, or at the very least, advice,
from Jackson.
July the 19th 1867
Rheatown Green Co. East Tennessee
Mr. Thos P Jackson
I saw threw the Rockingham register that you was the
p[added: r]esident of the board of registration
for Augusta County. I wish to know if I can not get assistance threw the millatary power
to collect a honest det
wich is due me in Augusta Co - I will explain the nature of the case as neare as I can the mony is due me for land sold
in fifty nine to Micel Carwell near middlebrok I left my bonds in the pay of William
McChesney for to collect for me in the fawl of sixty two
I roat to McChesney to colect a payment which was due me at that time and send me a check for
the mony he sent me a check for the mony dated October the 23 1862 on the traders bank at Richmond when
the check came to hand I tryed to sel the check for state mony which would of
answered my purpose at that time but was not able to sel
it for any thing but Confederate mony and was advised
not to go to Richmond to collect my mony that if I went
there and refused to take Confederate mony I would be
put in prison I have saw some of Gen.
Shofields orders published in the papers wich I thought would reach my case order number
thirty-one [unclear: sars] for the purpose of
[page 2]
of giving
adequate protection to a person in their rights of person and property in case
where civil authorities m[added: a]y fail I hav not tryed the civil laws of
virginia to make my mony but from the best information that I hav
had from there it will [added: be] a diffacult matter to get justice in my case I had a
letter written to Gen
Scofield to now if he would
not take my case in hand but hav not received any answer
from him I do not now whether you hav the power to act in my case or not but thought you could inform me
whether it would be the duty of the Gen to take my
case in hand or not if your business should call you to the tow of Middlebrook you can find out all about my general caracter up to the time I left that poretion of the county the check with lawful interest
up to this time wich would [deleted: would] be nothing more than justis to me would amount to abo[added: u]t $12.00 I hav
writtin all I believe that is necesserry at this time if you think my case comes under your notice
I will try to come Virginia my self and state the case to you in person if you
will be so cind as to answer my letter you will [unclear:
abige
] a loyal citizen of Tennesee and one that has been reduse to poverty by the ware
Abner Harrison
