Q. How much cable was out?
A. From 65 to 70 fathoms, I think. I generally order 65 fathoms; but the captain gave her 5 fathoms more.
Q. Would she swing far enough to affect the question whether she was in or outside of Hampton Roads, as you understood it?
A. No, sir.
Q. Had you often been there before?
A. I had, sir, often. I was there 51 years ago. I started there.
Q. Did you ever have occasion, for any practical purposes, to locate where Hampton Roads began?
A. Yes, sir; several times I have anchored there with ships under my command, and the pilots have said, "Will you go up into the Roads?" and I said, "Yes;" and we never anchored within two or three miles of where we lay with the Minnesota.
Q. But it was not your object to get at any particular line which separated Hampton Roads?
A. No; we considered it a better anchorage. The only importance was a better anchorage.