[CHAP. XXVIII.]

and what you know of the number of the army under General Bragg at the capture of Munfordville, how you came by that knowledge, and all about it.

My name is Morrow P. Armstrong. My position in the Army is that of chaplain to the Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteers. As near as I could form a judgment in reference to the numbers of Bragg's army they would be: Infantry ninety regiments, averaging 325 to a regiment, making 29,250; cavalry I estimated at 7,000; batteries, twelve which I averaged at 130; giving a total of 37,810. My information I obtained partly by sight and partly by conversation with officers in that army. I saw, I believe, all or the greatest part of Bragg's army I was except Buckner's; two divisions of that were across the river. I was not across the river after the capture; did not pass through that part of Bragg's army.

Question. State, if you please, how you obtained those facilities for estimating the size of the army.

I was with the forces at Munfordville when they were captured and remained with them until they arrived within our lines; then I joined my regiment. I was unrestricted; I was privileged to go where I pleased. No person interfered with my movements. In fact, they told me they did not care where I went so that I did not go toward Louisville. The officers that I had most conversation with were a colonel on General Bragg's staff, a Tennessee captain, and a captain of the Mississippi Tenth; his name was [R. A.] Bell.

Question. State what you did with this information; whether you communicated it to any superior officers or not and whether it went to General Buell.

I told first General Wood, after entering our lines, all that I knew with reference to their numbers and of their position; secondly, I told General Smith; thirdly, General Rousseau; and, lastly, General Buell. General Smith and General Rousseau sent me to General Buell. If I mistake not it was on the 19th of September; at least it was on the Friday night after the night we were captured at Munfordville. I got to General Buell's headquarters somewhere near 11 o'clock at night.

Question. Do you know whether the rebel army had been increased after the invasion by recruits or volunteers?

I do not.

Question. Did you observe the condition of the rebel troops and can you state how they were off for provisions; whether they had any train accompanying them or not?

They had wagon trains accompanying them, but I think that their stock of provisions was scarce; at least they stated to us on Thursday morning that the reason why they did not give us more subsistence was they had it not to spare; that they had given us more than their men had. My share of that was about one hard cracker and a very small piece of fat bacon a day. This is what the officer who had that matter in charge said. A number of officers in that army told me that their men had to subsist on burnt corn and peaches, such as they could gather up. My observation among them was that they had little to eat.

By General DANA:

Question. Do you know whether the force you saw and estimated around Munfordville was the whole of Bragg's force?

From the information I had I am inclined to believe it was; of course I go on information I received, in making up my judgment, from the number of generals present and their rank; this must be the case. From them I learned pretty well the arrangement of their army under their commanders. I was informed that Polk and Hardee commanded wings. They had as division generals Buckner, Cheatham, Withers, Jones, Anderson, and Johnson; at least I got these names as division commanders. I saw most of these generals.

Cross-examination by General BUELL:

Question. How did you arrive at the strength of the regiments?

I arrived at the strength of a majority of those regiments by a comparison of them