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Montgomery, Ala July 23, 1861

My Dear Washington, Your kindness to me in making my last settlement with the P.O. Dept for yr. ending 31st March [?] me, especially in the absence of any other living man whom I could call upon, to ask your aid in settling for me the last quar ters pay. I am sure you cannot favor the outrages now being ena cted upon the South, notwithstanding you are a Union man - I know your nature too well not to know that you do not approve the sullying [?] of the South - but would prefer to let her depart in peace.

So then any way to get my pay for April and May? Do take some interest in this matter and

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place me under additional obli gations to you.

If you [?] have my account for routes 4002, 4009, 4065, 4213, 4025 settled and funds sent to me by means you may adopt you do me a great favor. It is impossible to tell you the intensity of the feelings of the people here and the [undaunted?] sentiment of [resistance?] to the death. In the name of heaven, stop this slaughter of men and these family distresses. Make the voice of reason and humanity heard and above all [?] the brutal violence to helpless women. My wife joins me in regard for you and in the hope you will give your influence to stop the [?] which drives on this aggression upon the

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South.

Very truly yr friend [?] [?] Sent JR Powell

PS. I have a nephew at St. James College Md. How am I to get him home? I never dreamed but I would be safe in going after him - please let me hear from you.