two, at least, of the direct routes from the Sequatchie Valley into the valley of Middle Tennessee. It commands the route direct through Altamont, also the route through McMinnville, being within striking distance of the forks of the road.

Question. Can you state whether the impression existed at headquarters at the time the orders for concentration at Altamont were given that the enemy had made such progress that it was even a matter of doubt whether the concentration could be effected at that point before the enemy could arrive there?

Such was the impression, and I recollect distinctly hearing the commanding general express the desire that such a concentration should be effected, but said that there was not time to get sufficient force into position at that point.

Question. Do you know whether the troops actually moved to form such a junction?

I know that troops did move to Altamont and other troops moved in that direction to within supporting distance-as many troops as could be made available at the time.

Question. What was your position and command at the time you allude to?

I was in command of the post at Decherd, commanding all the troops stationed there.

Question. What was the strength of your command and what was the object of having troops at that point?

There were about 4,000 men. The object of holding a force at that point was to watch the approach of the enemy by the road which debouches from the mountains near Cowan and to perform this duty in conjunction with the force at Cowan; also to guard our railroad communications with the near, then threatened by a cavalry force of the enemy.

Question. Was Decherd also a depot for the troops along that line at that time?

It was the depot for supplies.

Question. Can you state what there is in the topography of that country which made Decherd an important point with reference to any movement of the enemy to get in rear of the positions we held in North Alabama at that time?

There is a good road, which, debouching from the mountains, passes through Decherd, and, running in a southwesterly direction, leads directly to the rear of the position of our forces in North Alabama.

Question. What is the character of the country between the Chattanooga Railroad and the road leading from Decherd to Huntsville which you have just described, and in what position would the peculiar features of that country place a force at Huntsville taken in rear by a force coming from Decherd as you have supposed?

The country is very rugged and mountains and not traveled by any practicable roads to my knowledge; so that it would be impossible for a force to escape from Northern Alabama and make its way to our positions in what we suppose the neighborhood of McMinnville by turning the enemy's force to its left; in other words, they would be cut off from a junction with the remainder of our forces.

General DANA here moved-

"That as the body of General Sill, lately killed at the battle of Murfreesborough, has arrived in Cincinnati, the Commission adjourn to enable the members to pay proper respect to his memory and the occasionJanuary

Carried.

The Commission adjourned to meet January 31, 1863, at 10 a.m.