supporting. This was under the command of Colonel Miller, and was organized, I think, about the 20th or 25th of August. Before, however, there had been any efficient action of this brigade the army returned from the South, and it was no longer necessary. Previously, as testified, the garrison here was very small and could spare a very indifferent force, but subsequently sufficient was spared to organize this light brigade, which would have answered a good purpose had the general army remained in the south. It was considered expedient also to throw up works of defense about the city, and I received an order from General Buell to reconnoiter for that object. At the same time he informed me that an engineering officer would be sent here to carry into effect whatever measures might he considered good in that relation. This officer was Captain Morton, of the Corps of Engineers of the U. S. Army, who planned his works with reference to their speedy completion, but with the capability of being indefinitely extended; and essentially the same works exist now with the strength added. About the 1st of September the army came here from below, and within the first ten days and gone north, leaving a garrison of about 20,000 effective men, or rather it was strengthened to that point by the arrival of the Army of the Mississippi. It was originally about 10,000 men of all grades. This was under the command of Brigadier-General Negley. General Negley was ordered to exercise vigilance and to defend the place to the last extremity, and accordingly did everything that occurred to him as a vigilant officer to do, particularly strengthening the works, sending out expeditions to the country, preparing a boat bridge on the river, laying in supplies, such as could be obtained in the country, with reference to a protracted siege, and building the bridge and defending themselves when attacked. The city was thereby held until the arrival of this army, and I think could have been held with the supplies we had some two or three weeks without getting further supplies.

When Colonel Miller was in command here, with his small garrison, he was ordered to defend the three railroads which go from this place, one north, the Louisville road, as far as the Tennessee line, and the two south, about 15 or 20 miles. The remaining portion of the road south also had a defense organized, without our having much information with regard to their particular means here in Nashville; we knew simply that there was a sufficient force on those roads to protect them. I believe General W. S. Smith was charged with that duty.

Question. Were those operations of the enemy at any time of so formidable a character as to give ground of apprehension for the safety of Nashville?

At one time, when there was a small garrison and no works of defense, and an illy-disposed population, as there has always been, it was possible that a dash could be made by such forces as those cavalry leaders of the enemy could have brought. On one or two occasions when this was apprehended measures were taken by barricading the streets with wagons, &c., and blocking up the main entrances to the city. At a later date, when we had a larger garrison, there were threatening and sufficient apprehension to keep us at least on the alert. The day before the arrival of the army from Louisville, under General Rosecrans, an attempt has been made to destroy the bridges across the Cumberland and feel our works by a considerable force. They made an attack on the city on all the roads leading south at the same time and simultaneously an attack on the other side of the river, an attack of cavalry, the object being to get to the bridges to destroy them. I do not think they could have taken the city by regular siege with such a force as we then had in the city and vicinity. In addition to the strengthening of the works by operations of engineering were those of mounting all the pieces of artillery left by the enemy, making cartridges, &c.

Question. Do you know anything of the capture of Murfreesborough and of the inconvenience that resulted from that misfortune?

No, sir; I have no specific information on that subject, because it occurred before I came here.

Question. Did any portion of the army with which Bragg crossed the Tennessee River to invade Kentucky turn upon this place and take part in the siege?

I am not informed on that subject.

Question. What was the character of the force that was acting against the city during the absence of the army in September and October and what was its strength?

It was mostly cavalry. The last instance I was speaking of, before the arrival of the army, was infantry and artillery. The force I have no means of knowing, except-