that varied very much. It was placed as high as 60,000 and 100,000, but I never supposed he had more than about 40,000 to 45,000 men at Chattanooga.

Question. Was your estimate greater or less than that of other high officers in the army?

I think my estimate was less than General McCook's. I am not prepared to say whether it was less or greater than that of other officers. I remember that after we got into Kentucky I had some conversation with officers as to the strength of Bragg's army, and the general estimate was that the enemy was about 60,000 strong.

Question. Did you find supplies of forage and provisions scare or abundant in that part of Tennessee through which you marched in going from Battle Creek to Murfreesborough?

Very scarce. Parts of the road very scarce, with the exception of perhaps one day's march, where we passed through a pretty good country, about 30 miles south of Murfreesborough.

Commission adjourned to meet February 28, 1863.

CINCINNATI, February 28, 1863.

Commission met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present; also the judge-advocate and General Buell.

Major-General CRITTENDEN'S examination continued.

By General BUELL:

Question. Did you during the month of August last hear reports or rumors of an intended advance of the rebel troops from the vicinity of Knoxville; and, if so, what destination did those reports or rumors give to such an advance? I mean prior to a knowledge in the Army of the Ohio of the invasion of Kirby Smith.

I did hear in August last rumors and reports of a large force of rebels gathering about Knoxville. I am not sure that I heard of the direction that they were going to take. It was a matter of frequent speculation and conjecture with us at camp as to which way they were going, whether they would come to Chattanooga; and after Bragg had crossed the Tennessee it was a matter of speculation as to the point at which they would concentrate.

Question. What do you mean by concentration; do you mean a concentration of Bragg's forces with the forces that were collecting about Knoxville?

I do, sir. It would perhaps be proper to add that I think I now remember that at one time we heard of a very considerable force of Bragg's army moving from Chattanooga to Knoxville, but which I believe turned out to be a false rumor. Whether that occurred in August last or in the latter part of July I am not certain.

Question. In the statement previously given in your testimony in regard to the strength of your division are we to understand that it includes but two brigades; was the organization of your division subsequently changed, or rather was an additional brigade added to your division?

In my statement with reference to the strength of my division it is to be understood, of course, to mean the strength at that time at Battle Creek. When I arrived there I had but two brigades. Subsequently, when I moved from Battle Creek, Colonel Harker's brigade reported to me, either as we returned down the Sequatchie Valley through Jasper or at Battle Creek, 5 miles up the creek, where I encamped, and continued to form part of my command until I reached Nashville, where I was directed to instruct General Harker to report to General Wood, to whose division he belonged and from which he had been detached for some time. Colonel Stanley Matthews was ordered to report to me, and his brigade formed a part of my command from that time till now, but the precise day he reported to me I cannot now remember.