Question—From the time your skirmishers were posted until the retreat, how much time elapsed?
Answer—I should think about an hour.
Question—What caused the retreat, in your opinion, and what succeeded?
Answer—We retreated because the bugle sounded "the retreat," and we were also ordered by Lieut. Routh, the officer in command of our company, who said shortly afterward that it was a mistake, as it should have been "the advance," and ordered us to "halt" and "front," and we did so accordingly. The skirmishers immediately came down upon us, who were all men of our battalion, and we all retreated together to the cross-road, near the place where we first deployed. Two or three companies of Rifles came down this cross-road from the right of the attack at this moment, and the whole became mingled together and the formation was immediately destroyed. Several attempts by officers of the Thirteenth and the Rifles were made to rally or re-form the men. I noticed Col. Booker and Adjutant Henery do this, and also Ensign Armstrong, who carried the colors. I saw Lieut. Arthurs endeavoring to stop the men, and also other Rifle officers whose names I am not acquainted with.
ADJUTANT HENERY RECALLED.
Question—State the names of the officers of the right wing of the Thirteenth Battalion who were present when that wing was ordered to skirmish?
Answer—Major Skinner. Capt. Grant. Lieut. Gibson, and Ensign McKenzie, of No. 1 Company; Capt. Watson and Lieut. Sewell, of No. 2 Company; and Lieut. Ferguson, of No. 3 Company.
Question—How long have you been connected with the regiment, and in what capacity?
Answer—As Drill Instructor and Adjutant, about four years.
Question—About what proportion of the Thirteenth Regiment was wholly undrilled at the time of the affair at Lime Ridge?