After the arrest of Hopkins, the negro being left to himself returned to his quarters, but sometime during the night stole a skiff and attempted to escape with his family down the Kanawha River.

The circumstances of his accident in the river, the drowning of his family and his subsequent capture, I have not been able to investigate fully.
"The only matter of controversy now is in regard to the horse.

The bar-keeper at the tavern denies that he has said it was taken by Wagon-master West (a man who has since been discharged by the Post Quartermaster), and I have been unable to trace it, although every effort has been made in perfect good faith to do so.

The man West was put under arrest, to see if that would make him admit anything with regard to it, but without effect.

I advised Slack to procure some one who knew the horse to pass through the government stables and teams, and if he recognized the animal to let me know at once, and I would give an order to him to obtain it.