From the Richmond Dispatch, 3/17/1866, p. 1, c. 3

OUTRAGEOUS MALTREATMENT OF A LITTLE BOY BY BLACKS. – A little boy, about nine years old, son of Mr. A. Gipperich, a very worthy citizen of Church Hill, was very severely beaten on Thursday evening by a band of negro boys from Chimborazo. Mr. Gipperich’s two little sons had gone to the deep gully which is a boundary between Church Hill and Chimborazo to gather the white pebble which abound there. While thus engaged, a band of negro boys, formed in line as mimic soldiers, with drum, &c., came by and observed them. Uttering some denunciations of the “little rebels,” Company B was ordered to charge, which order was obeyed – Company B rushing down the banks after the unoffending little fellows, who endeavored to escape. The eldest succeeded, and reaching home, gave the alarm that his brother was in the hands of the negroes, as indeed he was. They caught him, beat and choked him, threw him down the gully and hurled missiles at him, one of which, a brick-bat, but his head very badly. An old negro man happening to pass by, caused the assailants to desist, who formed again on the hill, and cheering lustily at their victory over the “damned rebels,” vowed to serve them all in that manner. By this time the little boy’s uncle reached the scene and conveyed him home, very much disabled, almost insensible and bleeding.

This outrage is a grave one. But for timely aid, young Gipperick might have been killed: for all know that negro boys, from ten to fifteen, have no consideration whatever. Their exclamations show the ideas which have been impressed upon their minds, and this event, together with others that have occurred, indicates that trouble may come from this Chimborazo colony unless it be placed under police regulations. These negroes are set down there chiefly through the wild mania that possessed the race when the Federal armies traversed the State. They left their homes and crowded the cities. The scenes of those times, and bad teaching, have implanted ill-fated hostilities towards the people amongst whom they are obliged to live, and who are indeed their best friends. It is manifest, unless they change their sentiments and modify their conduct, that trouble is in store for them and those amongst whom they live.

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