Ltn Hantwell - civilian     D293
Edisto Island
May 4, 66

Edisto Id SC
May 4-1866
Dear Kinsley:
I drew on
you when the 1st inst. for $800. in favor of 
Jns. King & Co.
Beecher's in Summerville expecting to
go to North Car. with his Regt for muster out
soon. I place no confidence in any 
report impugning his loyalty to freedom
& all its principles. I know the absurd
reports of his having favored ex-rebels &
disregarded the interest of the negroes, & I
really think they are false & slanderous.
You know how he & I used to quarrel -
& we probably should always do so
when officially connected. I think he may
be too obstinate in his own ideas, but
for me to believe that man with his
honorable wounds & record to be favoring
folk is the principle for which he
intentionally fought in what I shall

decline to do upon the representation
of any persons whose evidence is based
on reports brought to them in [their]
Charleston by the negroes & not personally
examined by them - These are the same
reports made about myself last year
by Mr Pillsbury, who told me when I
spoke to him about them, that they
where found to be incorrect & that
Beecher & Hallowell & I were "exabled
from other commanding officers" - But
he wrote some of these reports & never
corrected them
I am getting on well here - altho
living in rather rough style without
many luxuries I assure you - I will
try to get time to write you fully
of matters on the island
Yr truly
A S Hartwell
Civilian
Mr E W Kinsley
Thanks for taking charge of my money - 
Am glad now I saved a little

Edisto Island S. C. 
May 4, 1866
Dear Kinsley -
I drew on
you - the 1st inst. [(] for $800 in favor in
Jno King & Co. 
Beechers in Summerville expecting -
go to Inft Cav with his regt for muster out
soon. I place no confidence in any
report impugning his loyalty to freedom
and all its principles. I know the absurd
reports of him having favored ex rebels &
disregarded the interests of the negroes, & I 
really think they are false & slanderous. 
You knew how he and I used to quarrel
& [was] we probably should always do so 
when officially connected. I think he may
be too obstinate in his own ideas but
for me - that man with his
honorable wounds & record to be __
__ is the __for which he
intentionally fought in what I should
[de]

decline to do whos to representatons 
[?] or persons whose evidence is [banel] 
on reports brought to men in
Charston by the negroes & not presently
examined by men.  These are the same
reports made about myself last year
by Mr. Pillsbury, who told me, when I 
spoke to him about men, that they
were found to be incorrect & that
Beecher & Hallowell & I were "Ex ___
free to commanding oficers" but
he ___ ___ of that reports & ___
corrected them.
I am - as well here aim
living in rather rough style almost
many loyalties & assure you I will
be ___ ___ you fully
of matter on - in land
Yours fond
A. S. Hartwell
Civilian

Mr. E Kinsley
Thanks for taking charge of my money &
I am glad now I save a little.

Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.