have been otherwise empty; and was not this explained in a satisfactory manner to the Government?

The knowledge about the use of General Mitchel's wagons in carrying cotton which I gathered by inquiries was as follows:

Between Athens and Huntsville the wagons were used in bringing cotton to sundry railway stations. Cotton was hauled northward between Reynolds' Station and Athens on the return trip of the army wagons, which I consider a detriment to the service, because a bale of cotton weighing on an average 500 pounds, and generally putting about three or four bales in those wagons, made the return trip of the wagons as arduous and as wearing on the mules as the trip southward loaded with subsistence, and I urged that such transportation of cotton be suspended to enable the mules to get the rest by coming back empty. As for the explanation rendered by General Mitchel for so using the wagons I have no knowledge of it, and merely know that the condition of affairs in using these wagons induce the order which I have mentioned in my previous testimony about restricting the use of army wagons for amy purpose only and restricting the transportation of cotton by railway where it interfered with Government supplies.

Question. Do you know what became of the slaves pressed into the service of the Government for the repairs of railways after such repairs were completed?

I cannot tell of their ultimate fate except of what I saw myself. A great many of them were sent to Nashville to assist in erecting the fortifications there, and on the line of march northward and along the Chattanooga Railroad, both by rail and by wagon road, they received every facility for being sent northward and along the Chattanooga Railroad, both by rail and by wagon road, they received every facility for being sent northward with the troops. Large crowds of them were on the railway trains, picked up from the stations as we relinquished them, and I saw a great many going north in wagons by the country roads about the same time that the troops were on the march. I know that there was a great sympathy felt for them by officers and soldiers and a general desire to help them along.

Question. Do you know of any orders issued in reference to that subject.

No, sir.

Question. In saying that the produce trade between Nashville and Cincinnati is very extensive, do you mean to say that this is confined to Middle Tennessee or Tennessee at all, or is it not rather that the Nashville trade extends throughout the whole South?

I have no doubt that other States besides Tennessee derived their supplies from Nashville, but I am satisfied that such shipments were made to Nashville for the benefit of Tennessee, because in time of peace they found it more profitable to raise cotton than grain as a general thing.

Question. Do you not know that the published statistics, such as those of 1850, made by the Government, show that the counties of Middle Tennessee and East Tennessee give a very large surplus in grain and produce of that sort?

I am not aware of that fact; but the fact of a region raising more produce than is requisite for the supply of the inhabitants thereof does not involve that it should be impossible for that region to import large supplies.

Question. Did the troops when put upon half rations suffer?

That I am unable to say. I was told, however, as a general thing, that they eked out as much as they wished to eat by living on the green corn.

Question. Did they not in fact live better than when they had full rations?

I do not know; but I would state that it was a by-word in the army that a soldier in full health cannot well what the full rations allowed by the Government.

Question. State briefly the amount of subsistence in Nashville after the Army of the Ohio was massed there and all the supplies you enumerated had been brought in.