n on which the
whole regiment had an opportunity to skirmish as a battalion. I also
wish to state that I saw the right wing of the Thirteenth extend
and advance in skirmishing order, and that nothing could exceed the
steadiness and regularity with which they advanced.

EVIDENCE OF W. T. URQUHART.

The thirteenth witness called by Lieut.-Col. Booker was Wm. T. Urquhart,
assistant editor of the Hamilton _Spectator_, who was a private in No. 4
Company. Thirteenth Battalion.

Question--Do you recollect seeing Lieut.-Col. Booker after the fight at
Lime Ridge, and where?

Answer--I do. I saw him on the rising ground immediately in rear of
where the action took place.

Question--Were you exposed to a heavy fire?

Answer--We were.

Question--Were you one of the retreating column?

Answer--In the rear.

Question by the Court--What was Lieut.-Col. Booker doing at the time you
noticed him?

Answer--He was trying to restore order.

Question--Where were you when the right wing went out to skirmish? And
did your skirmishers relieve those in front of you?

Answer--We were on the right. I was in the company forming the support
of the skirmishers on the right, and the skirmishers of our company in
front relieved those of the Rifles in front of them. The Rifles retired
in good order to the reserves. I certainly saw two companies come in,
but I cannot speak as to the whole line.

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 th