Yes, sir; but that was after dark. The line had been driven back once before, but recovered their ground by the assistance of the brigade sent to them by General Gilbert. After dark they had been driven back again, and the orderly who went over to this place where General McCook was at sundown was captured.

Question. How, then, do you understand the previous question? Your answers, you observe, do not accord.

I supposed that the question had some connection with the fact that they were driven back some time in the afternoon previous to my arrival. The enemy did occupy that ground after dark and held it.

Question. Did you go to General McCook's corps on the morning of the 9th with any instructions? If so, please state what the object of your mission was and what you saw.

I did not carry any instructions to General McCook, though I was ordered to go forward by Colonel Fry to learn the positions occupied by McCook's command and see how they had progressed in issuing rations and in getting ready to advance. I left our headquarters about 8 o'clock and found General McCook near the Springfield and Perryville road. I told him what I had been sent forward for, and tried to get some then asked him where the Tenth Division was, but he did not tell me. I found them afterward on the left and to the rear of the other troops. His troops were formed in two lines. I think the intention was to have one regiment from each brigade in the second line, though it was not carried out through his entire line. The first brigade I found was Colonel Harris', Third Division. He told me he was on the extreme right and that there was nothing beyond him. Afterward I found Colonel Starkweather's brigade, of the same division, on his right. They gave me no information of the enemy, though I inquired of them. They were both formed on the skirt of some timber, looking out upon an open space several hundred yards across, toward the Mackville road. At this time General McCook's line was formed almost parallel to the Mackville road- the night before they had been almost perpendicular to it-so that in falling back the left had swept round and the right moved a very little to the rear. His entire force had moved to the right so as to connect with General Gilbert's corps. No one I saw knew anything about the enemy, though Colonel Starkweather told me that there had been large fires on the edge of the wood, probably not more than one-third of a mile from him, and that he supposed the enemy had bivouacked there. I asked him if he had seen any one moving about these fires during the night, but he had not observed any one there, and did not know whether the enemy had gone or not. The only one from whom I obtained any information was Captain Wickliffe. He told me that some guns of Parsons' battery which had been captured the day before were several hundred yards in advance, and if a brigade was advanced they could bring them in. I looked for General Rousseau and found him asleep. I awoke him and told him about these guns. He referred me to General McCook. I went in search of him, and told him that by advancing a brigade he could ge these guns again; that a less force might attract the notice of small bodies of the enemy's cavalry who were moving about upon this open space in front of this line. General McCook called an aide, but I do not think he gave him any orders. I do not remember what he said to him. I told him it would be well to have another brigade to support this. He then said he would not send any. Afterward Lieutenant Parsons went out with, I think, Captain Wickliffe and drew in these guns without being molested. There were, I believe, three or four guns, though I did not see them. I tried to find out whether rations had been issued to the command or not, but no one could tell me. I went from regiment to regiment and found that some had received them and others had not, but no officer from any one's staff could tell me anything about it.

General Buell having finished his examination-in-chief, the Commission adjourned to meet on Monday, April 6, 1863, at 11 o'clock a.m.

CINCINNATI, April 6, 1863.

The Commission met pursuant to adjournment. Members present, General Wallace, General Dana, General Tyler; also the judge-advocate and General Buell.

Major WRIGHT'S examination continued.

By General BUELL:

Question. Take up the report for the 1st of September* and state, if

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*Not found.

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