General BUELL. I wish to say myself to the Commission that I do not mean by the question to make any defense by reflecting on General McCook or General Thomas; that I am satisfied that some of the delays were unavoidable, and I do not know but that all of them were. It is simply meant to inquire what would have been the result if everything had worked as I excepted it would and as my orders expressed.

Commission adjourned to meet January 23, 1863.

LOUISVILLE, January 23, 1863.

Commission met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present; also the judge-advocate and General Buell.

Colonel GUSTAVUS A. WOOD (a witness for the defendant), being duly sworn by the judge-advocate, testified as follows:

By General BUELL:

Question. Colonel, state your name and position in the United States service.

GUSTAVUS A. WOOD; lieutenant-colonel of the Fifteenth Indiana Volunteers.

Question. Were you with the troops at McMinnville in August last?

I was in command of my regiment at Vervilla, from 7 to 10 miles from McMinnville.

Question. Were you sent to Altamont during that month by the general in command at McMinnville? If so, please to state with what object.

I was sent in command of the regiment on the 23rd of August, receiving my instructions from General Wood, the division commander, which were to report as to the nature of the road to Altamont, and as to the forage and supplies that might be obtained in the vicinity, the facilities for camping, and also to gain such information with reference to the movements of the enemy as could be gathered during the expedition. The additional instructions as to my encampment were that I was to fall back and not to stop at Altamont and encamp a mile this side. Those were orders that I could not obey, so I fell back some 8 miles.

Question. Did you understand that your instructions emanated in the first place from General Thomas?

I understood them to originate in authority higher than General Wood, but was under the impression that the expedition was directed generally by General Buell. I was not advised as to whom the orders were from, but supposed it was carrying out some order of General Buell.

Question. Was your division under the command of General Thomas at that time, in common with the troops in the vicinity of McMinnville?

I supposed it was, although I was informed that in one instance orders were sent direct by General Buell to General Wood.

Question. State what the orders were in that instance, if you please, colonel.

It was an order for our division, in connection with others, to move to Altamont, designating the road the division was to take. We had received orders from General Thomas on the morning of the same day, the 25th or 26th of August, to move to McMinnville, and when in sight our direction was changed, and we moved down the Decherd road until coming to what was called the Hickory Creek road, when we were turned in the direction of Altamont. I was caused to make inquiries on account of the extra march made by the regiment, and learned the fact as above stated as to the issuing of orders. This is the only order that I know of General Buell delivering or sending directly to General Wood at that camp.

Question. You were informed that this order was given by me directly to general Wood, were you?

Yes, sir; I think I saw the order.