Question. State your professional opinion of the practicability of ditch and parapet for assault. State reasons.

Answer. The ditch offered but a slight obstruction and could have been readily passed and parapet mounted. The ditch was ten feet in width, depth, six feet four inches, the command of the work eight feet. The scarp and exterior slope had been very much washed; the inclination of the exterior slope very gradual, so that it could be easily mounted. I tested the practicability of mounting it by taking a musket in my hand after we were in possession of the work, springing into the ditch and running up the exterior slope to the crest of the parapet. I repeated this with fifteen men, each with a musket in his hand, no man having any assistance from his comrade. I called the attention of Major-General Price and Brigadier-General Clark to the experiment while I was making it.

Question. If there had been prompt co-operation of the two assaulting divisions what would have been, in your professional opinion, the result?

Answer. I am satisfied that the work would have fallen upon their first assault. Question. State your professional opinion as to under what circumstances there is the greatest amount of casualty and loss of life to an assaulting column.

Answer. When the column of attack wavers and begins retiring.

Question. Were you present after part of General Fagan's column fell back and was rallied; and did you hear General Fagan ask permission to renew the assault? State what was said by Generals Fagan, Price, and Cabell.

Answer. I was. I did hear General Fagan ask permission to renew the assault. I heard General Fagan state that he could take it by another assault, and that his (General Price's) escort ought to take part in the assault; that he had thrown his own escort in. General Price stated that he would not renew the assault. Cabell remarked to General Price that it was a damned wise decision.

Question. During the two days' stay at Boonville, was the ferry-boat constantly employed in crossing recruits to the army from North Missouri?

Answer. It was.

Question. Did you see General Price's command in several successful battles? State where and when.

Answer. I did. At Lexington, Mo.; on the Little Blue; in the vicinity of Independence; at Westport; in the valley of the Osage, on the 25th of October, 1864; at Newtonia, Mo., all during the fall campaign of the Army of Missouri in 1864. ·

Question. Did General Price dismount the larger portion of his troops before battle; and what were his usual dispositions before battle?

Answer. He invariably dismounted the larger portion of his troops. His usual dispositions were to form his line of battle in two ranks, dismounted, when with nine brigades, one to be kept mounted on each flank, artillery posted on line of battle or on the nearest commanding ground, supports designated for batteries, reserve of one or two brigades at about half or three-fourths of a mile, varying according to the character of the ground.

Question. Were you present when General Price received information that the enemy was moving at the Marais des Cygnes on the rear of his column? If so, did General Price return immediately at half speed, first ordering General Shelby to the rear with his old brigade under Brigadier-General Thompson?

Answer. I was. General Price returned as stated, and such orders were given to General Shelby in my presence.

Question. Were you with General Price when he met the retreating column at the Marais des Cygnes? State where it was, in what order, and where was the train.

Answer. I was not with General Price when he met the retreating column on the Marais des Cygnes.

Question. What other dispositions did General Price make with the unarmed troops after the Marais des Cygues affair, and what was the result?

Answer. On the day of the Marais des Cygnes affair, while we were engaging the enemy between the Marmiton and the Osage, and while we were being pressed heavily by the enemy, General Price formed about 5,000 or 6,000 unarmed men and moved with them upon the enemy's right under a fire of shell, and the enemy gave way upon the advance of this force.

Cross-examination concluded.

The Court was then cleared to consider of questions suggested by a member.

Major-General Price again appearing before the Court, the witness. Capt. T. J. MACKEY, was re-examined by the JUDGE ADVOCATE:

Question. How far were the pontoons carried, and were they ever used?

Answer. They were carried to Dardanelle, where four of the eighteen were converted into wagon bodies and the others burned.

Question. Was this information as to the enemy having forced into Fort Davidson prominent citizens of the vicinity subsequently con firmed; and, if so, how?

Major-General Price here objected to this question, and assigned the following reasons:

The question is improper because it is not necessary that the information should have been absolutely true. It is sufficient that the information should have reached the commanding general through the only channel by which that officer could acquire a knowledge of the state of things from citizens of the country who were well affected toward our army. If it appeared to be true, and was in accordance with the enemy's custom, that citizens should be pressed into, their fortified places. especially sympathizers with General Price's cause, it is sufficient. It is a wellestablished principle of military criticism that a general is not to be judged by the state of facts that actually existed at the given time, but by such facts as appeared to him to exist from the best information he could gain.

The Court was then cleared for deliberation, and decided that the question be put.

The witness proceeded to answer:

After the retreat of the enemy I met a few citizens who were in the fort during the fight, who stated that they had been forced into it. The dead bodies of persons in citizens' dress were found in and around the work. These persons were identified as citizens by women after the fight.

By a MEMBER:

Question. What was the state of discipline in General Price's army during the campaign?

Answer. Not very good.

Question. You have already testified to the causes of delay during the march between Princeton and Potosi. Please state how many days were lost, and could this delay have been provided against?

Answer. Four or five days. This is only an approximate estimate, including delay from all causes. I think this could not have been provided against by any means within the control of the commanding general.

Question. How many cannon were fired at Fort Davidson from Shepherd's Mountain, and with what effect? What description of guns and caliber?

Answer. Two or three pieces. On the day of the assault two shells burst in or at the work. I cannot state with what effect, nor can I give a description of the guns. Question. Were fascines or other material prepared for facilitating the passage of the ditch?

i

Answer. None whatever. After the assault I prepared a number of scaling ladders. Question. You say that General Price on the morning of the 28th August ordered the pursuit of the enemy, who had evacuated Fort Davidson during the night. Do you know if any of them were overtaken and captured? If so, how many?

Answer. I cannot say of my own knowledge that they were overtaken.

Question. To what point did the enemy retreat, by what road, and when did he reach his destination?

Answer. He retreated to a point on the Southwest Branch of the Pacific Railroad. He moved from Pilot Knob along the Potosi road. In the vicinity of Caledonia he took the road to Steelville. I cannot say when he reached his destination.

Question. Did General Shelby return in time from Potosi to take any measures for intercepting or pursuing the retreating Federals?

Answer. He did not return in time to intercept them. He pursued them. Question. When you felt convinced that the officer in command of the engineer company was a confirmed cripple, did you report the fact to Major-General Price; and if so, what action did he take?

Answer. I reported the fact to General Price, who stated that I had better put some other officer in command and that he would approve it.

Question. Did General Price have any of the Hannibal and Saint Joseph Railroad destroyed; and if so, how many miles of it?

Answer. He ordered the destruction of it in my presence. I know not if the order was executed or not.

Question (by a MEMBER): Did General Price give instructions for the destruction of any of the railroads in North Missouri? And if so, state what roads and then state the number of miles of each that were destroyed and where.

Answer. He did, of the North Missouri Railroad and the Hannibal and Saint Joseph. I cannot state the number of miles of each that were destroyed and where.

Major-General Price then asked the permission of the Court to propound to the witness the questions which follow. The Court was cleared, and after deliberation decided that the questions be asked; whereupon Major-General Price again appeared before the Court.

Question. You state the discipline of the command was not good. Does this statement relate to the time of General Price assuming the command or subsequently?

Answer. To both.

Question. Was the discipline at any time worse than usual with troops of that character in an enemy's country?

Answer. It was not.

Question. What was the character of the troops which joined General Price at the second rendezvous in North Arkansas?

Answer. General Shelby's old brigade and a large body of recruits, consisting of citizens of that section, conscripts, absentees without leave from their commands. and deserters, and but a few volunteers. Shelby's command was never in a high state of discipline, but reliable in battle. They were the right arm of the army. The larger parts of the command that joined us there were of recruits, conscripts, and absentees.

Question. Do you know of General Price sending a detachment from Boonville to destroy the Perruque bridge, on the North Missouri Railroad; and if so, to whom were the orders given? Give the names and character.

Answer. They were given to Colonels Anderson and Quantrill. They were the most distinguished partisan leaders, and were the terror of the enemy in that section and accustomed to operating on railroads.

The hour of 2 o'clock having arrived, the Court adjourned to meet at 9 a. m. to-morrow, the 27th instant.

SIXTH DAY.

THURSDAY, April 27, 1865–9 a. m. At a Court of Inquiry then held at Shreveport, La., pursuant to adjournment.

Present, Brig. Gen. Thomas F. Drayton, Provisional Army, C. S.; Brig. Gen. E. McNair, Provisional Army, C. S.; Col. P. N. Luckett, Third Texas Infantry; Maj. O. M. Watkins, assistant adjutant-general and judge-advocate.

The record of the previous day's proceedings was read.

The judge-advocate stated to the Court that on yesterday he had sent a summons to appear as a witness to Governor Thomas C. Reynolds, as directed by the Court, a copy of which is hereunto attached and marked Exhibit E, to which summons said Governor Reynolds replied by the following letter:

*

Maj. O. M. WATKINS,

SHREVEPORT, LA., April 27, 1865.

Assisiant Adjutant-General, Judge-Advocate, &c.:

MAJOR: Your letter of yesterday, informing me that the Court of Inquiry ordered at General Price's instance desired my attendance as a witness, has been received. Although the order convening the Court does not direct any investigation of the statements published by me in reference to General Price, yet as it was occasioned by them, and I have been and may hereafter be in consultation with you in reference to the inquiry, delicacy prompts me to exercise my legal right of declining to testify in the case. Í do so with the greatest respect to the Court and yourself.

I am, major, very respectfully, yours,

THOS. C. REYNOLDS.

The judge-advocate submitted this letter to the Court and asked that the Court be cleared to consider it. The Court was accordingly cleared. The Court decided that it had not the right to compel the attendance of Governor Reynolds, as he did not belong to the line or staff of the

army.

General Price appeared before the Court.

The judge advocate represented to the Court that he was in no way connected with the campaign to be investigated. That when it was conducted he was serving far from the scenes of its operations, and that when ordered on the Court he had no knowledge of the matters to be investigated, with the exception of what could be gleaned from unof ficial and ex parte statements contained in the newspapers of the day.

Not found,

hat Governor Reynolds, of Missouri, served throughout the campaign, nd that Major-General Price, in his cross-examination, makes referace to charges contained in a letter or circular published by Governor eynolds before this Court was asked for or ordered. He therefore reuests the Court to permit Governor Reynolds to be present during the aking of such testimony as the Court may not deem necessary to be ept from the knowledge of one of his high official position in order hat the judge-advocate for his own information may consult with him ore intelligently on the facts and circumstances to be scrutinized by he Court.

The Court was cleared for deliberation. The request of the judgedvocate was refused, inasmuch as Governor Reynolds does not appear n the attitude of prosecutor, and the Court sits with its doors closed at all times to all persons except those absolutely necessary for the ransaction of its business.

General Price again appeared before the Court.

The judge-advocate announced the decision of the Court.

Maj. JAMES R. SHALER, assistant adjutant-general, was then sworn and examined by the judge-advocate, no other witness being present: Question. Were you in the campaign in Missouri in the autumn of 864 under command of Major-General Price; and if so, in what capacty you served, when you joined the command, and when you left it?

Answer. Yes; I was the inspector-general of that army and on the staff of MajorGeneral Price. I served in that capacity on the staff of Major-General Price from May, 1864, to December of that year.

Question. State the organization of the army under command of Major-General Price while operating in Missouri in September and October of 1864 at the beginning of the campaign, and give any material changes that were made during the campaign.

Answer. At the commencement of the march it was composed of Major-General Fagan's division and a battalion of three companies; Major-General Marmaduke's division of one brigade of Missouri troops and a battalion of six companies, and a brigade of Louisiana troops ordered to report to General Marmaduke, but failed to do so. Upon the arrival of the army at Pocahontas the army was reorganized, and upon leaving that place was composed of three divisions. Major-General Fagan's, composed of four brigades and a battalion of three companies, Major-General Marmaduke's of two brigades, and Brigadier-General Shelby's of two brigades. To Brigadier-General Cabell's and Colonel Slemons' brigades, in Major-General Fagan's division, there were attached two pieces of artillery, making four in all for the division. Major-General Marmaduke's division had a battalion of artillery attached to it composed of two batteries, three pieces in each battery. Brigadier-General Shelby's division had one battery of four pieces and one company as a body guard of the commanding general of the army. After arriving at Boonville a brigade of Missouri recruits of two regiments was formed and placed under the command of Colonel Tyler and became a part of Marmaduke's division. Besides these there were companies of partisan troops reported by their leaders to General Price, but never became a part of the regular organization.

Question. State the caliber and character of the artillery in the Army of Missouri.

Answer. I cannot state it with accuracy. They were field pieces, some of them rifled. Two of Brigadier-General Shelby's pieces were Parrott guns; the caliber I do not recollect.

Question. State the discipline of the troops when the campaign began and during it to its conclusion.

Answer. There was no discipline when it began and during the campaign, and at its conclusion there was all the disorder that must necessarily obtain in an undisciplined command,