The JUDGE-ADVOCATE. What is your opinion as to the size of that army?

General BUELL. That is, "what he heardJanuary

Colonel SHOEMAKER. I formed the opinion at the time that the army of General Bragg did not exceed 30,000 men, and what I saw there and at Knoxville confirmed me in the opinion.

By the PRESIDENT:

Question. Just state what that was from which you formed you opinion.

It was from conversation with officers of the army and what I saw myself. I can state generally what I heard from the officers. General Cheatham was crossing with his force in the neighborhood of Hartsville, General Bragg at Carthage, General Polk at the town of Gainesborough, and from what I could learn I judged there were about 20,000 men. There was a great expectation among all the officers that there would be a general rising in Kentucky, and their hopes were based on that supposition. I saw General McCown. He stated to me that he had already shipped some 3,000 (I am not positive as to the number) of arms for the recruits raised by Morgan, and he thought they would be required to raise arms for 20,000.

Question. I would like to have this question answered if possible: State what you saw, colonel, that confirmed your opinion, formed from the statement of those officers, and who the officers were.

The officer with him I had the most conversation was Lieutenant Kuhn. He was of the body guard of Bragg, and commanded the protection that went with me to Knoxville.

Question. What other officer do you recollect?

Major Scott and Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson. There were a number of officers that I talked with whose names I do not know. I saw General Bragg, and he said nothing to me nor I to him relative to the strength of forces on either side, but he refused to parole me, giving as his reason that I had seen to much - but I had seen but little - and he refused to parole me on that account rather than because I had seen more. It was my desire to be paroled, but he paroled me to go to Knoxville.

Question. What were the facts, from your own personal observation, that you saw to confirm any opinion of that kind?

I was taken prisoner on Sunday evening, and was till next Monday at noon going through and at Knoxville,and my opinion was made up from what I saw and heard generally. I do not know any more particular points that I could state.

Cross-examination by General BUELL:

Question. Did the opinion which you formed then from observation and hearsay agree with the opinion had previously formed of the rebel army?

I think it did.

Question. Did I understand when you left Nashville you estimated the rebel army under Bragg to be 30,000 and no more?

That was my opinion. I do not know that I placed it particularly at 30,000 and that that opinion was formed at Nashville, but my opinion of the strength of General Bragg's army was not much changed by what I saw and heard.

Question. Your opinion of the strength of Bragg's army continued the same?

Yes.

Question. Do you know how many division there were in Bragg's army?

I do not.

Question. Do you know the organization of the divisions?

I do not. I know nothing further than what I stated in my direct examination.