Question. Did you report this information to your immediate commanding general?

I did, immediately. The report was made to me by my aide-de-camp, who had gone out to the front to order back the two advanced brigades, and as there seemed some little uncertainty and doubt as to whether it was so or not I rode forward myself, as mentioned in a previous answer, toward the town of Perryville, with a view to verifying the matter, and then returned and met Generals Crittenden and Thomas again and told them that nothing was to be seen of the enemy.

Question. Do you know any reason why this information of the movements of the enemy did not reach you earlier, of it was sent?

I do not, sir. I have described the manner in which it came to me and about the hour. During the whole of the morning of the 9th up to that time I was with my division and never probably more than 100 yards from it, and in a position to receive any information that was sent to me, as well as to supervise any movements of the division that might become necessary.

By General TYLER:

Question. Is not the Tennessee River navigable from Muscle Shoals and Knoxville during the summer for light-draught boats?

Without pretending to any very accurate information on the subject, I do not think it is navigable for most of the season from Muscle Shoals to Knoxville. I believe it is navigable during part of the year. I would not say for the greater part of the year.

Question. Is not Chattanooga the only Southern railroad connection between these two points; if not, what other Southern connection is there?

Chattanooga is on the line of the most direct railroad communication between Knoxville and the head of Muscle Shoals. But there is another way of going from one point to another without going to Chattanooga, but it is a very circuitous one and passes very far south.

GEORGE H. THOMAS (a witness for the Government), being duly sworn by the judge-advocate, testified as follows:

By the JUDGE-ADVOCATE:

Question. State, if you please, general, your name and position in the service.

George H. Thomas; major-general of the United States Volunteers.

Question. You will state, if you please, whether there was time between the 22nd of August and the 2nd of September to have concentrated the army under General Buell at Murfreesborough; and, if so, what effect that would have had on the invading forces under Bragg.

As far as I can remember now I think there was sufficient time to have concentrated the army at Murfreesborough. I do not think that would have prevented Bragg from taking the road he did take.

Question. What point, in your judgment, would have been a better one to have operated from against the invasion?

I should have concentrated the army sufficiently to have fought at Sparta and urged General Buell to go so. His reply to me was that we had not subsistence enough at Murfreesborough to enable us to do so.

Question. You can state what your opinion was and is upon the sufficiency of the reason.

I believe now that the supplies were very limited at Murfreesborough. I did not know at that time anything about the state of supplies, as I was far away on the flank of the army.

Question. You can state whether, depending upon the supplies we