_A._ I think not. Our troops had abandoned Hampton and moved in, I think. There was nothing there to land at Hampton. We may have had possession at that time. _Q._ Do you know of any obstacle whatever to these men having been taken ashore at Old Point Comfort and carried to Hampton? _A._ I went up twice to Washington, with Colonel Baker, when he abandoned Hampton; but I think at the time the prisoners were on board we had the occupation of Hampton by our troops. My impression is, we occupied it partly with our troops at that time. I went to Washington at another time, when the troops had abandoned Hampton, and Colonel Baker took his soldiers up in the same boat. _Q._ A college has been described on shore, and the locality described. Was it not occupied as an hospital? _A._ Yes, sir, at the time the Minnesota arrived. It is not in Hampton. _Q._ When the Minnesota arrived with the prisoners was not that building in possession of our Government? _A._ It was, sir, I believe. I was not in it. _By Mr. Evarts_: Is not the hospital at Old Point? _A._ Near Old Point. _By Mr. Brady_: Designate on the chart where it is? _A._ I have done so,--the square mark, on the shore, in the rear of the fort, on the Virginia shore. _By the Court_: How much of a town is Hampton? _A._ There is none of it left now. I suppose it was a town of 4,000 or 5,000 inhabitants. _Q._ Was it not formerly a port of entry? _A._ No, sir, I believe not; not that I know of. That was 4 or 5 miles off from the vessel. _By Mr. Brady_: How far was Hampton from Fortress Monroe? _A._ I should judge 3 miles. _Q._ I ask again, before you left the Minnesota, after the arrival of the prisoners, had you any instructions from Washington in regard to these prisoners? _A._ I cannot bring to my mind whether I had any or not. I had instructions, subsequent to my arrival, about all prisoners, and that was the reason why I came here. There was some question as to why I came with 700 prisoners; but I had instructions to bring all prisoners taken, and turn them over to Colonel Burke, of New York. _Q._ After you arrived at Washington did you receive any instructions in regard to these prisoners? _A._ I do not know that I did. I had some discussion in Washington. _Q._ Did you communicate from Washington, in any way, to Fortress Monroe, or the Minnesota, in regard to the prisoners? _A._ No, sir. _Q._ They went forward under the directions you gave before leaving to go to Washington? _A._ They did, sir; I gave the instructions. I did not know whether the Harriet Lane would be ready. She was waiting until the vessel arrived to relieve her from the station. _Q._ Was General Butler at Fortress Monroe at the time of the arrival of the prisoners? _A._ He was, sir. _Q._ Did you confer with him about it? _A._ No, sir. _Q._ Neither then nor at Washington? _A._ No, sir. _Q._ Was there any conversation between you and him in regard to that?