A. Just about the time General Pearson came. I think it was almost simultaneously about the time General Pearson came in, they announced that the communications were closed. The telegraph operator said he could not communicate.
Q. Was anything said or done there about moving General Brinton or getting any word to General Brinton—any communication in any other way?
A. Oh, yes; there was some talk—very considerable. I think it was believed that General Brinton was perfectly safe with his troops until after the firing began. Then there was considerable anxiety.
Q. That is after the burning?
A. I mean the burning—after they set fire to the cars. There was very considerable anxiety in regard to him, but the railroad officials stated that the buildings the troops were in were perfectly fire proof, and it was supposed that he was perfectly able to take care of himself.
Q. Did you see or hear anything from General Brown or his command that night?
A. After we first got there—during Saturday—General Brown was in and out several times in citizen's dress, telling about his conversations with the rioters, and the manner in which they talked to him, and various other things. I did not see him that night after the fire.
Q. Did you know anything about his dismissing his command—ordering Colonel Gray or Colonel Howard to dismiss their regiments?
A. No, sir. If the Fourteenth regiment came to the Union depot on Saturday night, I did not see it. There was one company of the Fourteenth regiment—I think it was the Fourteenth regiment—that was left, or came in afterwards in some way, that was there that night at the depot, and there were eighteen—eighteen or twenty men of the Black Hussars. There was about thirty thousand rounds of ammunition there.
Q. Eighteen of the Black Hussars, do I understand you to say?