thorized persons, and is not to be assumed by individual officers or soldiers. Peaceable citizens are not to be molested in their persons and property. any wrongs to either are to be promptly corrected and the offenders brought to punishment.

To this end all persons are desired to make complaint to the immediate commander of officers and soldiers so offending, and if justice be not done promptly, then the next commander, and so on till the wring is redressed. If the necessities of the public service should require the use of private property for public purposes fair compensation is to be allowed. No such appropriation of private property is to be made except by the authority of the highest commander present, and any other officer or soldier who shall presume to exercise such privilege shall be brought to trial. Soldiers are forbidden to enter the residences or grounds of citizens on any plea without authority. No arrests are to be made without the authority of the commanding general, except in case of actual offense against the authority of the Government, and in all such cases the fact and circumstance will immediately be reported in writing to headquarters through the intermediate commanders. The general reminds his officers that the most frequent depredations are those which are committed by worthless characters,who straggle from the ranks on the plea of not being able to march, and where the inability really exist it will be found in most instances that the soldier has overloaded himself with useless and unauthorized articles. the orders already published on this subject must be enforced. The condition and behavior of a corps are sure indications of the efficacy and fitness of its officers. If any regiments shall be found to disregard that propriety of conduct which belongs to soldiers as well as citizens, they must not expect to occupy the post of honor, but may rest assured that they will be placed in positions where they cannot bring shame on their commands and the cause they are engaged in. The Government supplies with liberality all the wants of the soldier. The occasional depredations and hardships incident to rapid marches must be borne with patience and fortitude. Any officer who neglects to provide for his troops or separates himself to seek his own comfort will be held to a rigid accountability.

By order of General Buell:

JAMES B. FRY,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Chief of Staff.

The WITNESS. I can give only my own opinion. If the whole of Tennessee had been possessed by the Federal armies, and the people could have been assured that tit would be held, I think the policy indicated in that order, as far as it was faithfully executed, would have had a good effect upon the people of the State in reclaiming their affections.

Question. And on the supposition which you have somewhat extended in your answer-that is, that they should be assured that the State would be held by the Federal armies-do you or do you not believe that the people of the State would by their own vote have returned to the Union and elected their officers under the Constitution of the United States?

Judging from what I saw heard in the counties in Middle Tennessee and from what I know of east tennessee I think it more than probable they would have elected their State officers and Congressmen. We had some large Union meetings in several counties of Middle Tennessee, and we regarded the prospects as very flattering for the return of the people to their allegiance.

Question. During this rebellion how has the disposition of the people in the counties you have referred to toward the cause of the Union compared with that of people of other portions of the State; have they been better disposed toward the Union or less sos than the people of other portions of the State?

General TYLER. I object to the question. It is not definite. I can form no opinion of the question, because I do not know what counties are included.

General BUELL. The question is not as to what is the disposition of the people of the particular counties. The object of the question is to draw a comparison between the disposition of the population which he has referred to-not the inhabitants of any particular district, but of the population he has referred to-which the disposition of the people of other portions of the State.

The PRESIDENT. I will suggest that if there is anything considered