Freestone County, Texas History TYLER REPORTER newspaper (of Tyler, Smith Co., Texas) March 31, 1864, page 4, 3rd column "Confiscated Lands for Sale in the Counties of Dallas, Ellis, Navarro, Limestone, Freestone, Kaufman, Smith, Van Zandt, Wood, Upshur and Hunt Schedule of all the tracts of land in the above named counties, which have been confiscated, will be left in the Clerk's Office of each county for inspection by those wishing to purchase, and in all cases in which a satisfactory minimum price is bid for a tract, I will obtain a decree to offer such tract or tracts for sale to the highest bidder, for cash at the Court House door of the County, on the regular sale day in each month, the biddings to open at the minimum price so bid. Until the war is over and our citizens shall return from the army, said lands will only be sold in this manner, and bids are invited. This course, it is hoped, may have effect of accommodating such of our citizens at home as need these lands for use, and at the same time allow our brave soldiers to purchase such tracts as they need, and prevent the lands passing into the hand of speculators at nominal price. M. A. Long, Receiver C. States Tyler, June 20, 1863.—33."