Question. Had General Buell selected a point in the mountain to oppose Bragg after Bragg was crossing at Chattanooga which party would have been acting on the defensive?

In the case supposed our army, I presume, would have been on the defensive, as we should have taken that position to reseat the advance of General Bragg, and it was my understanding when the matter of concentration of the troops at Altamont was being considered that it was with a view to resist such an advance across the mountains.

Question. Had a stand been made by General Buell at any point on the plains to meet Bragg as he descended from the Cumberland Mountains, would be (General Buell) have had supplies to carry out his purpose?

It is difficult for me to give an opinion on its subject, as I am not well informed as to the question of provisions at General Buell's command at that time. It would be a matter of inference to some extent. From the quantity of provisions which I think was issued to the divisions of the Army of the Ohio on their arrival at Nashville I should think that by putting the troops on half rations there would probable have been enough for the purpose indicated. My recollection is that we drew six days' rations. My division did when it arrived in Nashville. We have frequently used half rations and made them do at the time.

Question. Did you not and was it not known at the time that Bragg was co-operating with Kirby Smith?

I cannot say that I knew it or that of my knowledge it was known. I know that it was discussed as a possible or probable intention of General Bragg that it might ge within the range of his operations. We did not feel perfectly satisfied that his immediate intention was to co-operate with Kirby Smith at all until after his movements indicated that his object was first Kentucky and not Nashville. Then, of course, it became evident beyond doubt that his first operation was with the rebel force in Kentucky. It was frequently suggested during the earlier operations that co-operation with rebel forces in Kentucky might be the immediate object of General Bragg. Nashville was equally discussed with other places as being the first point of attack of Bragg's army, which in regard to certainty left the matter very much in doubt with that part of the army with which I had immediate connection at that time. The troops were very much scattered. Among other reasons suggested among the troops I served with was that General Bragg's army was destined immediately for Kentucky, because there was a great deal of political discontent in Kentucky, and it was to give a change for this feeling to show itself in a rising.

Question. Was not an attack upon Nashville a co-operation, in fact, with Kirby Smith?

Whether in strict military parlance it would be considered a co-operation with Kirby Smith would be a matter of opinion among military men; but I should undoubtedly consider it a powerful auxiliary to General Smith's movements in Kentucky.

Question. What would have become of Kirby Smith and his army had General Buell been left free to co-operate with General Wright in attacking it?

I do not think there would have been much of it left.

Question. State at what time you became acquainted with Bragg's crossing the Tennessee and what you did with the information.

On the 22nd of August, 1862, I sent a regiment of infantry from my camp, which was then at a little place called Vervilla, about 9 miles form McMinnville, to Altamont, I had learned previously that there were a few reliable loyal men in the neighborhood of Altamont from whom information might probably be obtained as to the movements, designs, and position of the enemy at Chattanooga. I instructed one of the officers of the regiment to put himself in communication with those persons. I had heard that there was frequent communication with the rebels themselves between Altamont and Chattanooga. This officer to whom I had committed the obtaining of information reported to me on his return, on the 23d, that he had heard from the loyal men in question that it had been reported about Altamont, through rebel couriers and other persons coming from the correction of Chattanooga, that the army of General