Collumbia S.C August 7th /65
Dear Sir With Due Respect to you, after Coming to this pleasant City and Getting somewhat acquainted I find the freedmen are Shamefuly abused for instance one Andrew Lee a Collord man Come in from the Country to Report some White men for Going into his house and Breaking open his trunks with a pretinse of searching for a hog that they Claimed to have lost. The Said Andrew Lee Went General Horton Commanding Post and Entered Complaint after hearing Andrew Lees Complaint he General Horton told Lee to Go off and that he General Horton had ought to put Lee in the Guard house and that those men had a Wright to search his house This is a queer state of things Brought about to allow those Miscreants to plunder houses Without Some officer or Written authority Sir I am only a sergeant and of Course Should be as silent as posible But in this I Could not hold my temper After fighting to get wrights that White men might Respect By Virtue of the Law Sir I Would further say to you try and Give those things Due Considderation No More But Remain Yours With Respect and true friend to the Union
E S Robison
Sergt. E. S. Robison to Major General Q. A. Gilmore, 7 Aug. 1865, Letters Received, series 4109, Department of the South, U.S. Army Continental Commands, Record Group 393 Pt. 1, National Archives. Sergeant Robison served in the 102nd U.S. Colored Infantry. Endorsements indicate that the department commander ordered an investigation, which was conducted and a report submitted, but the report is not in the file.
Published in The Black Military Experience, p. 742, in Free at Last, p. 514, and in Freedom's Soldiers, p. 158.