# data[].attributes.body
According to a report, Staunton has the most black students in the Valley.  It needs more space for the school, however.

Dec. 17, 1866

Harpers Ferry W. Va.

Chaplain

I have the honor to report that the schools under my charge were generally very prosperous during the month of November. The following places, have each about one hundred different pupils in day and evening schools, viz. Harpers Ferry, Martinsburg, Shepherdstown, and Front Royal. They are all making commendable progress.

# data[].attributes.body
I have the honor to call your attention to what I conceive to be an act of gross injustice practised upon a colored man by one of the Magistrates of this town, under the new order for the trial of criminal cases, and in regard to which I wish to know if an appeal can not be made, in accordance with the wishes of the plaintiff, [illeg.] the Courts having jurisdiction under the Civil Rights bill.

# data[].attributes.body
Jackson's letter to Joseph Milsted relates an accusation against Milsted's wife, who beat the child of Peyton Harris, a man whom Milsted employs. Jackson also states that Milsted has no right to beat anyone and that he must supply reasonable cause in order to breach a contract.

June, 4, 1847
Stauton, VA.
Sir

Peyton Harris (C) complains of bad treatment of his child by your wife and that you attempt to break an agreement made with him for the present year.

I need not tell you that the law gives you no right to beat or threaten to beat anyone and before you can put Harris out of his house and garden you must assign sufficient reason, such a breach of agreement on his part.

# data[].attributes.body
I have the honor to report that there are no Freedmen in this District able to work, for whom employment cannot be found.

# data[].attributes.body
According to the letter, the month of March 1867, had no Criminal Trials held against the Freedman's Bureau. This is successful because usually civil rights institutions were brought into court for no reason, just as a way to bring them down. Here, there were no cases of that in the entire month.

April 1st 1867
Staunton V
"I have the honor to report in compliance with Circular No. 10 C.S. 1866 that no Criminal Trials were brought to my knowledge in this Sub-Dist during the month of March, 1867."

# data[].attributes.body
There were many random assaults on black people for no definitive reason.

Dec. 11th/1867

Staunton Va.

General,

In compliance with your order Dec. 4th 1867 to report what action was taken in the "four cases of attack with pistols" alluded to in November report

# data[].attributes.body
In a letter to John A. McDonnell, Roswell Waldo requests him to send a black teacher to a school so that they could board with a black family because there is white opposition to black schools in the area.

Nov. 20/68

On account of hostility of the white population toward colored schools, the people would prefer a colored teacher, as he or she could then board in a colored family.

# data[].attributes.body
I have the honor to report that the number of freedmen who are out of employment is increasing. While many have good for the worker, there are many others who find it very difficult to procure Employment sufficient to purchase the necessaries of life. Among this class are numbered the aged of both sexes and many children who are not old enough to care for themsleves.

# data[].attributes.body
Morgan Pennock

After going through his own district, there are many people who want to pursue an education. He is recounting his plan to arrange for everyone to be able to accomplish this. He is also recounting that in another place, a teacher is moving schools and to continue operation of the old school, another teacher is needed.

Could be taken positively  or negatively, as in more people are being educated, or there are not enough teachers able to educate.

¨I can furnish School rooms (in the upper part of the Court House now used by me for office &c three (3) rooms) for one hundred & fifty and can soon, as I expect to arrange for at least a hundred & fifty (150) more.¨

¨She is about to accept a situation elsewhere, and was exceedingly anxious that the school should be continued, and would provide a teacher if desired. I promised that the school should continue.¨

# data[].attributes.headline
Nelson Irwin writes a very poignant and wrenching letter to General Schofield, the head of the Potomac Military District, pleading for justice and protection for blacks. He refers to an upcoming trial in Staunton and claims that blacks live under a "reign of terror". Irwin asks Schofield to use military power to intervene on the side of the law, writing, "We gave to the rich white man our best years, our strength, our youth, our sweat, and now that we are free, we get in return meanness, tyranny and injustice." Judging from the papertrail, this letter was passed all the way to Orlando Brown.

# data[].attributes.subject
Nelson Irwin writes a very poignant and wrenching letter to General Schofield, the head of the Potomac Military District, pleading for justice and protection for blacks. He refers to an upcoming trial in Staunton and claims that blacks live under a "reign of terror". Irwin asks Schofield to use military power to intervene on the side of the law, writing, "We gave to the rich white man our best years, our strength, our youth, our sweat, and now that we are free, we get in return meanness, tyranny and injustice." Judging from the papertrail, this letter was passed all the way to Orlando Brown.

# data[].attributes.body
In a letter from Chaplain Manly to Freedmen's School in Staunton, he ask for more school supplies another items that would be useful for education

Oct 20/65

Staunton Va

Chaplain
I have the honor to request that you forward to me for use of Freedmen's Schools in Staunton the following Books one hundred coppies of the Green Backs fifty coppies each of first Readers & Spellers twenty five mental Arrithmetic, some Alphabet cards (large size) fifty slates & twenty five outline maps together with anything else you may think we need. Please send these with a list of prices.

# data[].attributes.body
In this letter, Cook notes that although court proceedings have improved, public opinion on the rights of freedmen will prevent them from fully receiving a fair trial.
He notes:
"The number of trials has been very light this month and I think the Magistrates are improving in their manner of conducting such trials.

The evidence of colored persons is accepted with more fairness but the sentiment of the community is still such as to prevent impartial trials."

# data[].attributes.body
According to a report, Tukey is authorizing a room in the Court house to be converted/used into a school.

Oct 4t 1865

Staunton, Va

Sir

By permission from Lt. Col. C. Clay 58th Pa Vols comd'g sub. dist. of Staunton you are at liberty to use the upper story of the Court House recently occupied by me as an office, for a school room, for the children of freedmen in your sub-District 'B'.

Proper care will be taken of the Rooms in order that they may be given up when legitimately claimed, in as good condition as they now are.

I am Sir
Very Respy

W. Storer How
Capt &c

# data[].attributes.body
Colonel How was having difficulties requesting a room in their local Court House to be used as a classroom.

"When I used the same rooms as offices in August and September last, I was personally cognizant of the fact that there was no desire for their use by the Civil Authorities, and that Col. Clay gave unrestricted use of the portions occupied by him whenever desired for the purposes of the Civil Authorities.

I am also aware that there is not another building in Staunton which can be used for that School and I respectfully protest against the destruction of an enterprise fraught with untold benefits to loyal freedmen."

# data[].attributes.body
In a letter to Colonel Orlando Brown, Storer gives a report of how his district is organized and how the freedmen are going through difficulties right now, but things are going to get better once they receive a bit more support.

"The Freedmen are rapidly becoming familiar with and accustomed to their new relations to the whites, and give encouraging evidence that... they will soon cease to be regarded as an incubus upon the state."

# data[].attributes.body
John W. Jordan writes about a Ku Klux Klan demonstration in Staunton, Virginia, which threatens public peace.

May 4th 1868

Staunton, Va.

I have the honor to call your attention to certain demonstrations made by an organization here known as the "Ku Klux Klan" and which have caused a vast deal of dangerous excitement, especially among the colored population and which if not promptly suppressed will culminate in serious and deplorable disturbances of the public peace.

# data[].attributes.body
In this excerpt, Storer How pleads to Orlando Brown to employ former slaves. He describes that employers would instead burn themselves than employ former slaves.

W. Storer How to Orlando Brown, October 5, 1865
I again respectfully suggest that the local authorities, as overseers of the Poor may be made to take care of them -- as they best can for the inhabitants will then have a personal interest in the matter and permit the use of vacant cabins, which they would now rather burn than have them occupied under the auspices of the "Freedmens Bureau" --.

# data[].attributes.body
In a letter to Colonel Orlando Brown, another colonel evaluates the conditions for former slaves during reconstruction. Overall, the person writing the letter claims that there are no authorized system of apprenticeship to help them and that many freed slaves are overlooked by the local authorities.

# data[].attributes.body
Joseph Brown has ceased to work for Mr. Shaw and Mr. Shaw has decided to evict Joseph Brown from the house on his property.

July 20, 1867

Staunton, Va.,

¨The occupation of the house on Mr. Shaw's land where you now live is dependent entirely upon your working for him in a proper and regular manner. As you have ceased so to work Mr. Shaw has the right to eject you¨