to move and from the fact that they had an exaggerated idea of our forces. I have believed that if they had known the force they would not have retreated, and that they could, considering the discipline of their troops and the length of time they had been in the service, successfully cope with our army. I had most serious apprehensions of it at that time. I felt that the retreat, from all that I had learned in regard to its character, was cowardly, and that the whole result was a grand triumph on the part of the Government.

Question. Their information of our forces, position, &c., is generally very accurate, is it not?

I cannot say what is the degree of accuracy of their knowledge in that respect, but I have supposed generally that they had much more accurate knowledge of our forces than we had of theirs. I think in this case that the universal impression of the people of the magnitude of our forces had impressed them with the idea that it was greater, and the information that they had received through all the agencies that they usually employ and the advantages they had in Kentucky were overcome by the universality of that impression of our own people, including those that were ready to join them, for I know there was an impression that there was an immense army at Louisville and an immense army here in Cincinnati.

Commission adjournment to meet Thursday, January 29, 1863.

CINCINNATI, January 29, 1863.

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

General J. T. BOYLE'S testimony continued, as follows:

By the JUDGE-ADVOCATE:

Question. You saw Bragg's report, did you not, of that expedition into Kentucky and the letters and comments of the rebel press upon it shortly after it occurred?

I do not think I saw it; if I did, I did not read it. I saw the substance, probably, of an article of Provisional Governor Hawes, of Kentucky, and one Mr. Forsyth, of Mobile. I do not think I ever read General Bragg's report.

Question. You cannot state, then, what estimate the rebels placed upon our forces immediately after the expedition?

Only from information which I received from domestic rebels and citizens of Kentucky.

Question. I understand from your answer that you saw nothing of an official character at that time from Bragg or any of this officers?

None at all, sir; excepting I might state that a great many prisoners, privates and officers, made statements to me in regard to the matter, but no official statement was made.

Question. Do you know anything of a communication addressed by General Buell to General Nelson upon the subject of holding or evacuating Louisville?

I do not, sir.

Question. You spoke of an officer having been put in command over you that had no right to that place; who was that officer?

I did not speak of an officer put in command over me except by my consent. That officer was General Gilbert; it was done by General Wright. General Gilbert was placed in command at Lexington to withdraw the forces that were there, and not at Richmond, as well as the remnant that escaped from Richmond, and ordered, as I understood, to retreat or withdraw them from Lexington to Louisville or Cincinnati. Finding the route to Louisville the most desirable, he fell back by the road from Lexington to Frankfort and from Frankfort to Louisville. He was in command of that retreating column of General Cruft; General Jackson was with him. Both of them were brigadier-generals, and General Gilbert was not a brigadier-general. He was placed in that position at their written by General Wright. When he