that it was about fifty days from the time he got fairly across the river to the time he got safely beyond London.

Question. During this time did General Bragg's army, with the exception of the ten day's provisions be brought from Chattanooga, necessarily subsist on the country?

Yes.

Question. Would not a country that would furnish provisions to a rebel army no more loyal than the States of Tennessee and Kentucky, under a proper military management, furnish at least half rations for an army of the same size as that of Bragg's?

Yes, I suppose it would.

Question. Have the military rules that an army occupying a section of country possessed by the rules of war [has the right] to draw provisions from the country, been efficiently exacted by General Buell during his command of the Army of the Ohio?

I do not know that any supplies have been drawn from the country occupied by General Buell's army except cattle, occasionally flour, and forage for the animals; the animals have generally been foraged on the country.

Question. And has not the result been that General Bragg, marching through the same country, has been consequently enabled to subsist his army?

General BUELL. I beg leave to suggest to the Commission that one of their members is proceeding to condemnation, when their business is consideration. I must say for myself that I am astonished it should be asked; I am very glad that it has been asked.

The court was cleared. On being reopened the witness proceeded.

The WITNESS. General Bragg has not marched over the same ground, except in Kentucky from Bardstown as far as London and from Chattanooga up to Murfreesborough. I presume he had drawn some of his supplies in the vicinity of the railroad from Chattanooga to Murfreesborough.

By the PRESIDENT:

Question. From the time he concentrated his army at Murfreesborough to the time he reached Louisville was General Buell acting on the defensive or offensive?

I should consider it as acting on the defensive; that is, first defending Nashville and then Louisville, with the railroad to Louisville.

Question. In your judgment what circumstance, if any, required such a policy from General Buell?

The fact of the injury to the railroad making it necessary for him to keep between the enemy and Louisville, taken in connection with the fact that Kirby Smith had invaded and already had got possession of Central Kentucky.

Question. Do you mean to say that those circumstances required that policy from him from the time Bragg marched through the Sequatchie Valley until General Buell with his army reached Nashville?

I believe that General Buell thought so.

Question. I am not asking that; I am asking your judgment.

I have said already that I desired to concentrate the army and meet Bragg at Sparta and fight him, because I thought we had supplies enough to enable us to do it.

Question. How am I to understand your answer, general?

According to my judgment there was not a sufficient reason for falling back from Murfreesborough to Nashville.