had turned their cotton fields into corn fields, expecting to have great difficulty in getting subsistence for themselves. The old corn was not to be had in any great abundance anywhere on the march. It was a good enough country for meat. I suppose we could have gathered considerable quantities of beef.

Question. Was not the country at least capable of subsisting the army while on its march, without any reference to supplies ahead, supposing you had gleaned it thoroughly, making everything bend to the subsistence of your army?

It is possible that by moving slowly and gathering everything for a considerable distance along the route of the army it could have been subsisted through this valley in Alabama, which I have mentioned as a fertile valley, as far as Tuscumbia. My impression from what I saw of the country was that from there on its subsistence would have been meager if it had to be gathered in the country. The army might have gathered cattle enough, I am inclined to think; if they could have lived on meat alone it might have been done; but the army must necessarily have moved very slowly.

Question. What opposition did the enemy offer to your advance as far as Battle Creek going slowly as it did?

I encountered scarcely anything to be called opposition. I had a few men captured, perhaps a man or two killed, between Huntsville and Stevenson, which was done by small bodies of guerrillas. I saw no enemy.

Question. Was not East Tennessee at that time considered and represented as to a great extent loyal?

It certainly had been represented as loyal. My own experience in Tennessee prevented me from considering any portion of Tennessee as loyal. My impression was that the loyal men in East Tennessee had at that time generally left the State. This, however, is only my impression of what I saw of Tennesseeans generally. I have no doubt that in their hearts there are still great numbers of Tennesseeans all over the State who would prefer to be back in the Union, but they are overawed.

Question. Is there any question about the fertility and productiveness of East Tennessee, particularly the valleys?

I know nothing of East Tennessee; it is a portion of the State into which I have never been. I suppose my opinion on that subject is worth nothing.

Question. What is your general information on the subject?

My impression from general information is that it is a good country; not equal at all to the best portions of Tennessee, but a pretty good country.

Question. At what time and place on its march was it ascertained or did it come to be considered that the Army of the Ohio was not equal to the task of taking Chattanooga?

My own opinion is that the idea was never abandoned until Bragg crossed the Tennessee River. I supposed that we were endeavoring to repair the roads, to gather sufficient supplies, that we might go on to Chattanooga. This is my opinion, because we did not move back at once after the roads were broken, and because I understood that boats were being prepared to bridge the Tennessee at Bridgeport, and because I never received any orders that indicated anything else than a movement on Chattanooga. We were seeking information all the time from Chattanooga, and were directed by every possible means to obtain informationn as to the strength of the enemy there, their movements, and their resources.

Question. If General Buell believed his army unequal to that enterprise, what was his object in distributing it, as he did, over 400 or 500 miles of lines; mainly distributing it, however, with his right on Stevenson and his left at or about McMinnville?

I was never apprised of the object which General Buell had in view by this disposition of his forces. I infer that they were scattered somewhat with a view of having them supplied. Some were sent beyond the breaks. The roads were broken, and we were living on half rations for a great while. I suppose that the object with which he held on at Stevenson was with the hope that he could repair the roads and still take Chattanooga.