Question. Is it probable that an officer, an intelligent officer, in the rebel service would give you a correct impression as to the strength of the rebel army when that was subject of conversation?

Ordinarily I should say not, but I was a prisoner and going south, and they conversed with perhaps a little more freedom than they would have done under other circumstances.

Question. They might possibly have overestimated or underestimated?

Yes, sir.

Question. Upon what data had you previously arrived at the conclusion that the rebel army under General Bragg was not more than 69,000 strong?

I was stationed at Stevenson, Ala., up to, I think, the 30th of August, and of course it was a subject very much discussed there and upon the march to Nashville. I had formed that opinion from no particular facts perhaps, but as every officer in the Army forms an opinion in relation to the movements of his own army or that of the enemy. But there was no precise knowledge that led me to know what their precise forces were. It was a more matter of opinion, and formed from such general information as I was likely to obtain from my position in the Army.

NASHVILLE, December 13, 1864.

General J. B. STEEDMAN (a witness for the Government), having been duly sworn, testified as follows:

By the JUDGE-ADVOCATE:

Question. State, if you please, your position in the United States Army.

I am brigadier-general.

Question. State whether you were in the service under General Buell when the army moved up in pursuit of Bragg in the invasion of Kentucky.

I was.

Question. Will you state, if you please, to the Commission what estimate that intelligent officers of the army placed upon the number of Bragg's army in the march from Nashville to Munfordville?

General BUELL. This amounts to nothing more than collecting the rumors of the camp; it is no evidence whatever. The answer to such a question can be of no value as evidence.

The judge-advocate argued the legality of the question.

General BUELL. The investigation of rumors was commenced by the persecution. I have not in my cross-examination asked for any such evidence as the question of the judge-advocate tends to elicit from the witness.

Generals Buell and Steedman retired, when the Commission unanimously-

Resolved, The Commission is disposed to give the investigation the widest scope. Whether the opinion, estimates, or impressions of a witness are to be of weight when the Commission make up their opinion will be for future consideration, and the Commission will be governed by the laws of evidence and equity.

The question will be put.

General BUELL. If it please the Commission, I should like to be informed whether my objections were made matter of argument by the judge-advocate in secret session.