In consequence of this law, when Memphis was occupied the provost-marshal had forcibly collected all the evidences he could obtain of such debts.
Almost the first complaints made to me were these two outrages.

The gentleman who made the complaints informed me first of his own high standing as a lawyer, a citizen and a Christian.

He was a deacon in the church which had been defiled by the occupation of Union troops, and by a Union chaplain filling the pulpit.

He did not use the word "defile," but he expressed the idea very clearly.

He asked that the church be restored to the former congregation.