[CHAP. XXVIII.

rafters, and joists of store-houses in Florence, I made a steam-ferry bridge at the last-named place. I got the tools, nails, cordage, &c., from Pittsburg Landing. The bridge was capable of carrying across at a time about fifty loaded wagons; each trip took two hours. The army began to cross about the 25th. This was the best that could have been done, as the pontoons were, when inspected by me June 13, found unfit for use.

About July 6 I drew up plans and specifications for pontoon bridge across Tennessee River near Bridgeport. (I believe one was made accordingly.)

On July 9 General Buell ordered me to build stockades at the bridges on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad between Elk River and Stevenson. By July 25 I had laid out and put in course of construction by the labor of troops fourteen such works, as per following table:

Designation Size inside of Number of Station on

of works. square or length garrison. Nashville and

of development Chattanooga

in yards. Railroad.

Stockade A 16 yards square One company 1 mile below

Anderson.

Stockade B do. do. Bass.

Stockade C do. do. 1 1/2 miles

below Bass.

Stockade D do. do. 2 miles below

Bass.

Stockade E do. do. 2 1/4 miles

below Bass.

Stockade 1. do. do. Anderson.

Stockade 2. do. do. 4 7/8 miles

above Anderson

Stockade 3. 8 yards square Half company 5 miles above

Anderson.

Stockade 4. 16 yards square One company 8 1/2 miles

above Anderson.

Stockade 5. 24 yards square Two to three Tantalon.

companies

Stockade 6. 16 yards square One company Cowan.

Stockade 7. do do. do.

Redoubt 1. 95 yards square Two to three Elk River.

companies.

Redoubt 2. 97 yards square do. Do.

Stockade 8.* 16 yards square One company Duck River,

South Fork.

Stockade 9.* do do. Duck

River, North

Fork.

On July 28 General Buell ordered me to fortify the bridges between Huntsville and Stevenson, authorizing me to impress negro labor to help along the work. At this time some citizen mechanics joined me, and were subsequently used by me to direct the labor at the different points. August 1 I sent to Nashville and procured implements and hardware, blocks, falls, &c., for use on said works. August 7, being at Duck River, on Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, I got a telegram from General Buell to fortify Nashville. At Nashville I organized a camp, impressed negroes, &c., and began work with them and fatigue parties of soldiers. When General Buell came there on the retreat the capitol was defensible, also Saint Cloud Hill and the bridge. I gave as my opinion that Nashville could be held during his absence with the main army.

3. This interrogatory is replied to above.

4. I am not prepared to answer this of my own knowledge.

5. A battalion will occupy, in line of battle, as many paces as it has files, less one-fifth; 475 men in two ranks will occupy 188 paces or 140 yards.

Cross-interrogatories:

The improvements on the railroad as far as Murfreesborough I found in great part demolished on our recent advance here and all the timber stockades. The earth-works were left in tolerable order. Of the rest I know nothing of my own knowledge.

I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. ST. C. MORTON,

Chief Engineer, Army of the Cumberland.

*The two last were laid out subsequently, but are added in the above list for convenience; so are the following:

Designation of Size inside of square Memphis and

works. or length of Chattanooga

development in yards. River.

Bridge Defense 1 One company Flint River.

Bridge Defense 2 do Viaduct.

Bridge Defense 3 do Hurricane

River.

Bridge Defense 4 do Paint Rock.

Bridge Defense 5 do Larkinsville.

Stockade 10 do Near Bellefont.

Stevenson Redoubt 50 yards square, seven Stevenson.

Numbers 3. companies, four guns.

Stockade 11 16 yards square, one do.

company.

Depot Defense 6 Two companies. do.