that when his advance came to Bridgeport he saw the enemy's pickets, but it makes no mention of a battle; so if this facts occurred it must have had reference to General Negley's or General Mitchel's forces.

General BUELL. If it is admissible I request that he may be permitted to continue.

The JUDGE-ADVOCATE. I wish to fix the date of possible. State in what month this affair that you speak of occurred.

I cannot state the time. I do not think General Buell's forces were up there at that time. I think it was the force under General Mitchel. But I do not know much about the forces save what I heard reported throughout the country.

The JUDGE-ADVOCATE. It will be observed that the documentary evidence introduced on the part of the defense before the Commission takes us back to period anterior to this affair of General Mitchel's at Chattanooga, for the purpose, I suppose, of giving us as clear a history of all the transactions connected with that campaign as possible, and that can only be effected by taking the events in connection with those that immediately preceded them. Now, it has been held that Chattanooga was a place of so much importance-the complaints from Washington that the Army of the Ohio did not advance with sufficient rapidity for the purpose of taking that place before the enemy could get there and fortify it or strengthen it by re-enforcements is responded to in this documentary evidence that it was a place of so much importance and the facilities for getting there were so great that it made no difference what time they got there; that Chattanooga would be defended to the best of their ability. In that light this evidence is important, because it shows that at that time the rebels made no efforts to defend the place, and that had our forces been pushed on Chattanooga would have been in our possession. I think it might be proper to go on and show what the condition of that place was and what was the character of its fortifications, for if there were any he certainly must have had some knowledge of them.

General DANA. In relation to rebutting evidence, if documentary evidence has been introduced here by the defense, and has not been examined by the Commission, which is irrelevant to the subject we have under consideration, it is only a reason why that much of it should be thrown out, because we do not wish to extend our investigations further than we are ordered, and it is not a reason for us to introduce irrelevant testimony, which is of no importance to us at all.

The PRESIDENT. Allow me to suggest that the court be cleared.

The court was cleared; when, after discussion, it was resolved that the examination of the witness should proceed.

By the JUDGE-ADVOCATE:

Question. Were you in Chattanooga subsequent to the arrival of Bragg and his forces?

Yes, sir; I was.

Question. State what the condition of that place was as a place of defense. Were there any fortifications? If so, state their extent, how many guns they had, and all you know about it.

I do not know whether they had any fortifications or not; I never heard any one say; nor do I know anything about their guns.

Question. If there had been any fortifications there would you not have known it?

I think I would.