In December, 1864 the 6th Georgia Cavalry was ordered to report to Major Messick (sic) a Provost Marshal officer. The regiment then went into Georgia to surpress criminal outrages committed by southern deserters and outlaws. Major J.T. Burns, 6th Ga. Cav., reported that 13 groups of brigands were operating in Georgia, many were deserters form the Army of Northern Virgina. Major Burns specificly mentions depredations in Warren and Hancock Counties and that the high sheriff of Putnam County was also involved in criminal activies. Some of these outlaw bands were captured by the 6th while is was serving as Provost Marshal troops. I wonder, did the regiment turn these outlaws over to civil authorities, or as I suspect, handle the criminals in a summary fashion? If anyone has knowledge of these occurrences I would appreciate hearing from you. Regards, Richard Cofer