letters

Legal System (1865-1868)

Agents of the Freedmen’s Bureau frequently intervened in the legal system when freedmen were accused of, or victims of, crimes. These letters relate to the organization and function of the legal system in Augusta County, including local courts, military courts, and the conduct of magistrates. Many details about specific cases and their outcomes are provided in these letters, as well as information about various crimes committed, and importantly, Bureau agents’ reports on the ability of blacks to receive impartial treatment in the court system.