do not put myself in that attitude. I introduced it as a fact for the consideration of the Commission.

The question as amended read as follows:

"How far are you responsible for General Crittenden's corps not being in line on the morning of the 8th of October, and what reason existed, if any, why that corps was not on the march at the time ordered by General Buell, on the night of the 7th?"

General BUELL. I think it is all explained in General Thomas', testimony and in General Crittenden's too.

The court was cleared; when, after discussion, it was decided that the second question should be put to General Thomas.

The cross-examination of the Rev. W. G. Brownlow was then proceeded with.

By General BUELL:

Question. You have stated, I believe, Mr. Brownlow, in your direct testimony, that the rebel army drew freely upon the supplies of East Tennessee. What surplus above what would be required for the subsistence of the people until the new crops came in do you suppose there was on hand of the crop of 1861 at the time you left your home?

It was, as I remarked, a very abundant year, but the rebels had seized upon all they could find and had agents out purchasing. They ran it out of the country or stored it in various depots in great abundance in Knoxville, New Market, Greenfield, Bristol, Sweetwater, Cleveland, Chattanooga, &c. They had it in charge; it was our of the hands of the people; a great deal of wheat had been run off to the steam-mills at Atlanta. I should not consider that there was a great deal available outside of their hands. There was great complaint on the part of the people that they were oppressing them. Some men were put in jail for refusing to sell to the Confederate agents; that was the only offense they had committed. I could not say to what extent there were supplies. For three months of close confinement I could only learn from my fellow-prisoners, as they came in, what was going on out of doors. There was scarcely a day but there were accessions to our numbers in the jail, and they would give us the latest news.

Question. Considering the general scarcity of provisions in the South and the harsh policy which the rebel authorities practiced toward the loyal people of East Tennessee do you think it probable that there was any considerable surplus of provisions in the country as late as March of last year?

I should say not outside of what the rebel authorities had, for they bought it all up. There was a great deal, but they had it in their depots, and threatened to burn up and destroy it if the Federal army got in. There was also quite an abundance of beef cattle, hogs, and mutton which they seized upon; in addition to the abundance of grain hogs and cattle were abundant, but the rebel authorities had them all. I have been accustomed to lay in my pork, and never had to give $10 per hundred till them, which was the price I had to pay then.

Question. Have you frequently seen people from your country since you left there; and do they now give, as recently as you have seen any of them, any account with regard to the condition of the people and the abundance of their supplies?

I have seen them all the time; they come to see me here. I met with them at Nashville and Murfreesborough, and I went through the army and talked to them. They all agree, are harmonious in one tale, and that is that they are threatened with starvation all over East Tennessee; that destitution is very great, and they are very anxious that the Federal Army shall enter the country or they will starve. The labor, as I said, is chiefly performed by whites, and these have mostly gone into one army or the other or have absconded, and my information is that the present spring no crops of any consequence will be planted. This whole past summer was a season of great destitution and want. I think no people on this continent have suffered as severely as they have.