Washington on Wednesday night, so that I had no opportunity to cross-examine Colonel Fry. However, I have no objection to receive his deposition as it stands without cross-examining, if there is no objection on the part of General Buell to the deposition of Governor Johnson as it stands, General Buell having no time to cross-examine him.

The PRESIDENT. How was that?

The JUDGE-ADVOCATE. We had only one day, and some forty or fifty questions were put and answered. The examination was held on Wednesday, and we had to leave that night in order to be here to-day. As I left Cincinnati without any authority from the Commission to go to Washington, I would like, if it is not too late, to have some authority for my being in Washington at that time.

General TYLER. I move to amend the minutes of the 16th as follows:

"That we adjourn to Friday, the 24th of April, to allow General Buell and the judge-advocate to proceed to Washington for the purpose of taking the depositions of General Fry and Governor Andrew JohnsonJanuary

Carried.

The deposition of General H. G. Wright was then read by the judge-advocate:

Deposition of General H. G. Wright.

Questions by the JUDGE-ADVOCATE:

1. State what you know of the capture of Munfordville by the forces under Bragg, and why that post, being in your department at the time, was not sufficiently re-enforced by you or Colonel Wilder was not ordered to evacuate in time to prevent a capture.

The first attack on Munfordville was made on Sunday, the 14th of September, by a portion of Bragg's army, which was repulsed; and the garrison did not surrender I believe, till the morning of the 17th, when, surrounded by Bragg's entire force, a retreat or further defense was impracticable.

The place was not further re-enforced because its garrison was as large as the importance of the place would justify. It consisted of upward of 4,000 men, which, considering the strength of the position, was strong enough to hold the place against any force likely to be detached by Bragg to attempt its capture. Any large force would not have accomplished more, as none which I could have furnished could have successfully resisted Bragg's army, which was finally brought against it and compelled its surrender.

Orders were not given for the evacuation of the place because it was intended to hold it until General Buell's army came up, as had been done in the case of Bowling Green; and from the information we had concerning the relative positions of his army and the rebel forces it was believed it could be held successfully. It was not supposed that Bragg could bring his entire force against the place without coming in contact with Buell, though it was believed possible for him to attack with a strong detachment while watching General Buell with his main force. This was exactly what he attempted in the first place; but on being repulsed he fell upon the place with his entire force.

I may have been in error in supposing it in the power of General Buell to relieve the place, but I fully expected it, or I should have withdrawn the garrison before the first attack. As showing why Munfordville was held and General Buell depended on at all for its relief, I would state that after the defeat of our forces under Major-General Nelson at Richmond, Ky., it became necessary to concentrate all the forces of the department at points where a successful resistance could be made. The points naturally selected, considering the strength of our forces and the character of the troops, all of which were new levies, were near Cincinnati (or more properly Covington and Newport) and Louisville. Troops were accumulated at the two points as rapidly as possible till after the withdrawal of Kirby Smith's force from the front of Cincinnati, when all the available force was sent to Louisville, which in consequence of the advance of Bragg had become the important point. During this time the line of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad as far as Bowling Green had been held as a part of the line of communication of the army under Major-General Buell in Tennessee. At Bowling Green had been accumulated a large supply of rations (a million and a half, I believe) for General Buell's army, which could not be forwarded farther.