QQuestion. Is Spencer the nearest point to McMinnville and Sparta from which roads diverge to those two places, and what is the distance of Spencer from those two places?

I cannot say that it is the nearest point from which roads diverge to the two points. It is a point I had noticed frequently on the military maps we had, the only point, I believe, which I have noticed where roads were laid down. I have no other knowledge of the country than that. The distance, I suppose, would be from 14 to 20 miles, but it is a mere guess as to the relative distance from McMinnville and from Sparta. I presume there is no great difference in the distance, though I would not undertake to say positively.

Question. I understood you to say in your direct examination that there was some point within about 10 miles of McMinnville to which the rebel army might advance before it could be absolutely determined whether they were on the road to Sparta or on the road to McMinnville; what point is that?

I have no doubt I referred to Spencer. Spencer may not be more than 10 miles, though, as I have said, it might be 14 to 20.

Question. Is there no road that connects that road from Spencer to McMinnville with Sparta?

The only road I know connecting the McMinnville and Spencer road is the road that runs directly from Spencer a little east of north of Sparta. I know there is a direct road from McMinnville to Sparta.

Question. With the rebel army, then, arrived at Spencer and threatening an attack on the Army of the Ohio at McMinnville, was it practicable for it to move and take possession of Sparta before the Army of the Ohio could be advised of it?

That is my opinion.

Question. And in McMinnville was that movement threatened with a flank attack from the Army of the Ohio?

I think not, sir.

Question. The Army of the Ohio having discovered its movement in progress and attempting to make a rapid movement to Sparta would its right flank have been exposed to the rebel army or not?

When it approached near to Sparta, as I have already said, its right flank might have been exposed. If there were no natural obstacles through the country that would have made it impracticable for troops it would have exposed its flank, the other army being there in position.

\Question. Now reverse the positions of the army. Suppose the Army of the Ohio to have taken position at Sparta, with a view to prevent Bragg from marching into Kentucky, having given up its line from McMinnville to Murfreesborough; suppose the rebel army to have elected an advance on Nashville and to have arrived at McMinnville; then the Army of the Ohio, in an effort to relieve Nashville, starts at the same time for that place with the rebel army from McMinnville-which, if either, would expose its flank to the other?

I do not know sufficient of the roads from Sparta by which the Army of the Ohio would have marched to relieve Nashville to say how much, or if at all, its flank would have been exposed or if it would have threatened the flank of the rebel army. I should think that with the rebel army, however, at McMinnville and the Army of the Ohio at Sparta the flank of neither army would be exposed. I should consider one army as considerably in rear of the other when marching for the same point, the army at McMinnville having the best roads and I should think the shortest distance to march.