On Monday night about 7 o’clock my husband and I, in company with Richard Adams and June Minor took a walk on Main St. near 25th, two Reb boys with grey coats came from the opposite direction. We gave way so that they could pass, one of them ran against me and struck me in the breast with his fist. They said before they got to us that they “were not agoing to get out of the way for damned niggers.” We got out of the way as far as we could. I let go of my husband’s hand and went one way, and he went the other, and gave room for them to go between us, one went between us and the other went on the outside and struck me—my husband told him I was his wife and asked what he had struck me for. He said “I will strike her and you to, you damned nigger.” My husband said “no you won’t, if you strike her again I will strike you.” They called me all kinds of bad names. I was frightened and ran off. They kept cussing me and calling me bad names, and threw rocks at me. I left my husband there and ran home. I did not see the soldiers beat my husband. On Wednesday a soldier came to me and told me they had got my husband the night before, and took me to the Provost Marshals. They brought my husband in and the Provost Marshal showed me his cap and cravat and asked me did I know them. I told him yes, they were my husbands. That was all he asked me. I didn’t hear him ask any more questions. He told me to go and I went. I have never seen my husband since.
The above was mostly taken down by another person. He brought the statement to me, and afterwards at my request brought Jinny Scott to me. I read it to her, asked her some questions, told here that I was to send it to Washington and asked if it was all true and could she swear to it. She said yes.
Attest
signed H. W. Pierson
Richmond, Va.
June 8th 1865
