General McCook received information that thirty-six regiments had crossed the river and marched so far that in his judgment they could meet him to the Anderson road. He also received at the same time and from the same source (one his spies) information that a large force had crossed the river at some two or three points; and upon this information he came back, gave me his information, and told me that as I had been separated from his command by order of General Buell and posted in the position I then occupied, he gave me no orders, and I must act upon my own responsibility-remain there or go back with him, just as I pleased. The precise day when the enemy crossed the river I cannot state; this is the only information I had as to the time. I supposed General McCook sent the information to headquarters when the rebels crossed the river. We had heard of the crossing of the river by smaller commands several times before, and then heard afterward that they had recrossed and gone back; but between the 18th and the 22nd I should say that the main force or the force of the army crossed the Tennessee River.

Question. Was the information ever current for some time previous that the rebel army was advancing or about to advance on Tennessee?

Yes, sir; we had many conversations as to what they were going to do. Some thought they were going up to Knoxville; some to cross the Tennessee at Nashville; some thought into Kentucky. These were the conjectures among the officers and men.

Question. From the best information that you were aware of at the time as to the movements of the enemy and his designs what was supposed to be his immediate destination and by what route or routes across the mountains was he expected to move?

I confess I thought it was exceedingly doubtful myself as to what his object was, whether he meant to go to Nashville or whether he intended to go into Kentucky or whether General Bragg was expecting any great re-enforcements and hoped to lead our army farther into East Tennessee. I confess it was doubtful all the time to myself. Most of the officers with whom I talked rather persuaded me that Nashville was the point. That was the general impression at first. I did not know much about the roads at the time, but supposed he would take the Anderson road, and go either through Atlamont or keep off to the right and go through Sparta. There was another road, of which I do not remember the name, farther east than the Anderson road, by which he actually did go. If he was going to Murfreesborough, he would go from Sparta to McMinnville, or directly to Nashville if it was practicable to leave McMinnville to the left and go higher up into the State before he turned off for Nashville.

Question. Was the country across the mountains from Chattanooga into the plains of Tennessee understood to be very destitute of forage and water?

It was, sir.

Question. Do you know, in a general way, about how the troops in Tennessee were distributed at the time the rebel army commenced this advance?

I know in a general way only. I knew we had troops in Decherd, at Murfreesborough, if they had not been from there; we had troops at McMinnville, and I learned very soon after that we had troops at Pelham, that we had some troops at Stevenson, and we left a small force at Battle Creek. I understood too that we had some troops at Tullahoma and some over at Columbia.

Question. Had we troops in North Alabama and on the line of road from Decatur to Nashville, did you understand?

I did so understand.

Question. Was it probable, from the scarcity of water and supplies on the route, that the rebel army would make its march across from Chattanooga into the plains of Tennessee as rapidly as possible, should you say?

I should say so, certainly.

Question. Was there anything in the scattered condition of our forces that would have seemed to offer an inducement for the enemy to march