Question. Would a force that might be sufficient to hold Chattanooga and cover its communications be sufficient to advance toward Cleveland, Dalton also, and especially to advance farther toward the south and east.

No, sir; I do not think it would.

Question. From your general knowledge of the force that the rebel Government could probably bring to bear upon Dalton or Cleveland, and supposing the communications of our army reasonably secure, what force do you think would be necessary to hold either of those points so as to cut the communications between Virginia and Georgia effectually by that route?

As I understand that matter, the occupation of Chattanooga, Cleveland, or Dalton, or any point in that region of country, would be with a view not only of preventing communication by what is called the East Tennessee Railroad in Virginia, but also to extend its operations far enough south and by the position it might occupy to cut off communication between the eastern part of the territory occupied by the rebel forces and the southwestern, or at eastern part of the territory occupied by the rebel forces and the southwestern, or at least to impair those communications as much as possible. This would require such a force to extend its operations to the rebels, and the isolated position which such a force would be in as regards its re-enforcements, I do not think it would be safe to occupy that region of country with any view to permanency with certainly less than 40,000 men, and probably 50,000 would be found necessary to accomplish effectually the purpose I have indicated above. This estimate of force would depend somewhat upon the vigilance and activity with which the commander handled his troops.

Question. Suppose the Army of the Ohio had marched to Chattanooga without meeting a man last summer, how long do you think it could have remained there with an enemy not more than 30,000 strong operating on its communications?

I should think only a few days; perhaps long enough to have broken up some important links in the railroad communications in the way of bridges, and then it would, in my opinion, with 30,000 men acting on its communications, have been compelled t fall back.

Question. Do you think it the long run such a result would have benefitted the cause of the Government or have injured it?

I do not think it would have improved our cause in the long run. In considering myself the importance of occupying Chattanooga and that region of country I always did it with the expectation and understanding, and certainly that would be necessary on order that we should gain the full benefit if it, that we should be able to maintain that occupation; and with a view of making our forces, as far as I could exercise any influence with it, able to do that work, I constantly, during the past summer, in my correspondence with persons concerned in raising the military forces, insisted that our regiments should be filled up to the legal organization, they having fallen in the course of service much below it.

Question. Is there not, general, a good, level wagon road out of the Sequatchie Valley into North Alabama?

According to my best recollection there is such a road. I would not undertake to state positively how good a road it is, but I learned during my operations in Northern Alabama that there is a wagon road or route of the kind described. My knowledge of the road does not extend much farther than the east of Alabama.

Question. Is there not an old stage road crossing the mountains from Pelham and going on to Chattanooga called the Nashville and Chattanooga State road?

Yes, sir, I believe there is.

Question. Is there not a road from Jasper to Winchester by the way of Cowan or Decherd?