A. I did; for purposes such as that.
Q. And also of Colonel Guthrie?
A. I did; yes, sir.
Q. And Colonel Rodgers and the troops in that vicinity?
A. Yes, sir. You will observe I did not give Brinton any particular order.
Q. That power you had by virtue of the instructions that the commander-in-chief had given you before he left?
A. I took it I had that power generally in the comprehensive duties of Adjutant General. The conclusion of this dispatch to Brinton is not in the shape of an order. It tells him what to do. Brinton thought he could have done better, he could have gone somewhere else, and when a man don't follow such instructions as that he takes a great deal of risk, just as a man who refuses to obey the order of an adjutant, if the Adjutant General is sustained by his chief, he is going to get a pretty good dressing; if not, he is all right.
Q. General Brinton could have obeyed your instructions or disobeyed them?
A. I am simply applying that remark to the conclusion of this letter, which reads: "If compelled to escape, at least do so to the eastward. Take Penn avenue, if possible, and make for Guthrie, at Torrens." Brinton could have taken that direction, or taken some other one if he thought he could do better by taking some other. When he didn't take the direction I gave him, he assumed a responsibility.
Q. Afterwards, you ordered him to join Guthrie, at Torrens?