_A._ Sending them to a Northern port. The port of New York was the port I had in my mind. To send them by the first ship from the station, as soon as possible, to a Northern port, for trial. I could not send them to a Southern port for trial. The only way I could do so would be by guns. I could get no landing in those places otherwise; and I could get no judge or jury to give them a trial. _Mr. Larocque_ asked if, conceding the propriety of the inquiry, the statement of the witness was competent, viz.: that he had a port in his mind. _The Court_: No; the question was not put in the shape I supposed. The question should have been--for what purpose or object did he send the prisoners in the Minnesota to Hampton Roads? That is the point in the case--the intent with which the vessel was sent to Hampton Roads? _A._ I sent them there with the intention of sending them to a Northern port, for trial. The Harriet Lane being the first vessel that left, after my arrival there, they were sent in the Harriet Lane to the Northern port of New York. _Q._ Why did you not take them in the Minnesota directly to New York, instead of taking them to Hampton Roads? _A._ My station was at Hampton Roads, and I went there to arrange the squadron that might be there, and to get a supply of fuel for the ship. I do not think we had enough to go to New York, if we wished to go there. I had supplied vessels on the coast below, and had exhausted pretty nearly all the coal from the Minnesota when we arrived at Hampton Roads. _Q._ What directions did you give to the officers of the Harriet Lane? _A._ I gave no directions to the officers of the Harriet Lane. I gave directions to the commander of the Minnesota. I left on the day previous, I think, to their being transferred to the Harriet Lane,--giving directions that, as soon as she came down from Newport News, to send her to New York, with the prisoners. I had been called to Washington, by the Secretary of the Navy, the day before she sailed. _Q._ Are you aware of any facts which rendered it impossible to land the prisoners in the Virginia District, or on the Virginia shore? _A._ It was impossible to land without force of arms, and taking possession of any port. We _could_ land them there, but not for trial, certainly. The Harriet Lane had been fired into but a short time previous; and that was one cause of sending her to New York. _Q._ Fired into from the Virginia shore? _A._ Yes, sir; from Field Point; I should judge, about 8 miles from Norfolk port, on the southern shore, nearly opposite Newport News. I was not there, but it was reported to me. She was fired into, and she was ordered to New York to change her armament. _Q._ Was that fort in the way, proceeding to Norfolk? _A._ Not on the direct way to Hampton Roads, but a little point on the left. _Q._ Would a vessel, going the usual way to Norfolk, be in range of the guns that were fired at the Harriet Lane?