I was is informed while I was at Decherd during the summer. I never marched over the road.

Question. Did not our troops pass over these roads with their trains; at least two divisions of them?

I believe they did, sir; such is my understanding at least.

Question. What would have made you suppose that troops could not cross the mountains out of the Sequatchie Valley except by the way of Pikeville and Sparta?

I have not at any time, according to my recollection of my testimony, said that they could not have. I have habitually said that the roads the roads through the mountains were practicable so far as I have any knowledge of them, but that they were not good, but on the contrary bad; and after learning something of these roads by personal observation and more of the other roads from information derived from others it was my opinion that they would not be used by the enemy.

Question. What makes the road from Pikeville to Sparta better than what is known as the Therman road? Is there anything in the character of the country, as you understand it, that would make it better?

According to my understanding of it there is. It is not so broken a country, and that part of the road in the mountains from Pikeville to Sparta is not so long as that in the mountains of what is known as the Anderson or Therman road. This opinion is derived from information which I picked up by inquiring in the country, and therefore may possibly be all wrong.

Question. Do you know of a good stage road from McMinnville to Altamont?

There are two or three roads leading from McMinnville to Altamont. I have traveled one such entirely between the two places, which is a practicable road for carriages and wagons except the ascent of the mountains, which is very difficult and bad. There is another advantage, I believe, in what is called the stage road from McMinnville to Altamont. I have traveled in part, namely, that part which is in the valley of Caney Fork, but I never ascended the mountains on that road or went as far as Altamont; consequently I can only give an opinion of that part of the road I passed over. I know nothing of the difficulties of the ascent of the mountain on that road.

On motion of General Tyler the court was cleared.

Question. You have spoken in your evidence of passing round the spur of the mountains by the way of Sparta.

According to my information the country north of Sparta and northeast for some distance is not so broken at that south and west of sparta, and the mountains, as I believe from the information I gained in that part "make off" into table-land in that direction.

Question. Are the ascent and descent the same?

Of course the elevated land would be crossed over, which makes both as ascent and a descent; but if the idea I have of the country from such information I was able to gain be correct, the ascent and descent would not be so difficult, and would probably give a better route for the passage of troops.

Question. Is it true, general, that the rules of prudence and caution are necessarily equally applicable to opposing armies or to the same