[CHAP. XXVIII.

on to Huntsville for me, and I had to start without sufficient quantity of supplies to take me to Stevenson. The general, however, determined to send my supplies to a point on the railroad between Huntsville and Stevenson, near which I passed on my march. I got to Stevenson on the 12th of July, and on the 13th I received an order from General Buell to go to Battle and take command there. I reached Battle Creek on the 13th, and relieved General Hascall, who was there in command.

Question. In the march from Iuka to Athens what division did you follow and how fat were you behind?

I followed General McCook's division; it was commanded by General Johnson. When I reached Stevenson I found General Johnson commanded the division. I think General McCook left his division at Athens, but I am not sure. The division left Huntsville on the day before I got there; they marched very shortly before I did from Athens; I do not remember the day; I marched on the 5th. General Johnson left, I think, the day before I got to Huntsville, for Stevenson, where I overtook him.

Question. What do you know about the condition of supplies at the time of your arrival at Athens and about the cause of the scarcity, if there was any?

I know the there was a scarcity of supplies, and I understood that there was a break in the railroad, which made it necessary to haul supplies a considerable distance. Of the exact distance I am not sure, but I heard it was about 22 miles. Our wagons had had to bring supplies along the road. Afterwards, on the very day I got to Stevenson, we received the news of the taking of Murfreesborough, and the interruption there made the supplies very scarce for a long time. We lived on half rations for, I should think, a month from the time I reached Battle Creek.

Question. Are you positive about the distance that supplies had to be hauled over that break in the railroad?

I am not, sir.

Question. Was your division train turned into the general train for the purpose of hauling supplies over this break?

I understood that it was. All our wagons were so used, I understood.

Question. Was exertion made to supply your command with forage while you were in the vicinity of Athens and did you find the supply in the country abundant or scarce?

I found the supply of forage quite scarce. I cannot say what exertions were made to supply the command with forage. I had expected some forage, had been notified that I might look for some, but none was ever supplies me. I supplied myself with a good deal of difficulty, taking the forage where I found it. I made every possible exertion. General Nelson was in command there, and I remember having some little quarrel because I thought his animals were living a little better than mine were. I thought he obtained it from the supply train; and I remember his telling me that I would have to work for myself-there was no other way of getting it; and I made every possible exertion to obtain forage. I moved my camp once during the few days I remained at Athens in order forage or to get nearer to it.

Question. Do you know about how long you remained in the vicinity of Athens and what was the cause of your halting the temporarily?

I was halted there because of the scarcity of supplies, I understood; but I do not remember when I arrived at Athens nor how long I remained there. I understood there was nothing for me at Huntsville, and we were living front hand to mouth at Stevenson, which I understood to be the cause of my detention there.

Question. How does the country about Athens and Huntsville compare with that about Stevenson and Battle Creek in supplies of forage?

I should say that the country about Athens and about Huntsville was a better one for supplies than either that around Stevenson or Battle Creek. We could not supply ourselves at Battle Creek, and supplies of forage were sent to us. I hauled forage from Bridgeport and from Stevenson to Battle Creek. We consumed everything around Battle Creek. We sent our wagons some distance up the railroad to haul forage for some distance in the country when it was hauled to the road and brought down by railroad to the camp.