them, and it being a dry season many of them were out of water; one of them had no water at all. At Jackson's Mill two of our men were taken prisoners after we had started it. Paint Rock Mill, one of the mills we had in operation, was idle a great deal of the time for the want of water.

Question. What was done from first to last to carry on and complete the work?

All the miles were started that we could start. Our regiment was sent to Stevenson to build the boats, and we thought when we moved there that when we got into camp the lumber would be ready, but we were delayed a number of days for the want of the lumber.

Question. Did you work the mills yourself or did you depend upon the owners to work them?

Paint Rock Mill was worked under the charge of the owner, a man named Douglas, and a detail from our regiment and a detail from the Tenth Wisconsin to assist. Jackson's Mill was under the charge of Jackson, the owner of the mill, with a detail from our regiment. Colonel Innes had the general supervision of both mills after they were fairly started.

Question. Notwithstanding these delays, were the boats for the bridges constructed before the completion of the railroads and the accumulation of supplies at Stevenson which would have enabled the army to use them?

The boats were not completed before the road was finished through to Bridgeport, but they were finished before there were sufficient supplies collected at Stevenson for the army.

Question. Do you know anything about the abundance or scarcity of supplies for the troops under the command of General Mitchell before my arrival there? State, if you please, whatever you know upon that subject.

We were on half ration at one time-I do not remember the exact date-and we had a great deal of trouble to get our trains through; they were attacked and captured by bands of guerrillas. at one time Captain Paul, a captain of the commissary department, informed me that he had no rations on hand for the next day, and wanted to know when our trains would be in; and then we were on half rations. We got an order that our men should have full rations, as they were hard at work on the bridges, but the rest were on half rations.

Question. Did you use all the supplies you could gather in the country?

I do not know that we used all we could gather but we used a great deal that we gathered from the country.

Question. Was it the policy of General Mitchell to supply himself as far as possible from the country he occupied?

That I cannot answer directly, but he was always anxious about having supply trains come up, so as to be able to supply his army from his own department.

Question. Was your scarcity due to the difficulties in the transportation of supplies from the depots of Nashville?

Yes, sir.

Question. About what force had General Mitchell on that line that was supplied in that way?

We had the Third Division and about 600 and 700 negroes and men at work on the railroad.

Question. Estimate the number of men altogether, as nearly as you can.

I think 7,000 would cover them all.