[CHAP. XXVIII.

Question. What route did the extra wagon train of the Army of the Ohio pursue on the march from Bowling Green to Louisville?

According to my recollection it marched from Bowling Green to Brownsville, Litchfield, and West Point, to Louisville.

Question. What were the evidences of disorganization in the Army of the Ohio on its march from Nashville to Louisville; was the march conducted in good order and in proper preparation for battle; were the troops obedient and prompt in the execution of orders; were there many deserters and stragglers during the march?

I saw no evidence of demoralization in the Army of the Ohio during the march from Nashville and Louisville; the march was conducted in good order and in proper preparation for battle; the troops were obedient and prompt in the execution of orders. I heard of no desertions, and there was but little, if any, straggling. This was commented upon at the time.

Question. How can the absence of so large a number of men from the army after its arrival at Louisville be accounted for?

I account for the absence of men who left the army after its arrival at Louisville by the fact that they had come near their homes; that they had been a long time absent and passed through many dangers and hardships, and they knew that they were going in a few days to encounter new dangers and hardships in another campaign, and they could not resist the temptation to absent themselves.

Question. How is the large amount of straggling from the consolidated army on the march from Louisville against the rebel army under Bragg to be accounted for and were any efforts used by General Buell to prevent that evil?

I account for the large amount of straggling on the march of the consolidated army from Louisville against Bragg by the fact that many of the troops were entirely raw and undisciplined and that they had been raised under a state of feeling in the country which was unfavorable to regularity and discipline in armies in the rebel States, and which, in favoring a rigorous policy toward the rebels, led the men to think they were justified by their friends at home in indiscriminate plunder when operating in the seat of war. Straggling was a natural and necessary consequence of this state of feeling. General Buell was very active in trying to prevent this evil.

Question. At what hour on the 8th of October was it known that a severe conflict was going on between the rebel forces and the left corps under Major-General McCook; how was the information received; what action was taken by Major-General Buell in consequence of it, and what was the result of his orders with reference to it?

It was about half past 4 in the afternoon of the 8th of October, 1862, when it became known to General Buell that a severe conflict was going on between the rebel forces and the left corps under Major-General McCook. The information was received by an aide-de-camp from General McCook. Major-General Buell immediately on receipt of this information gave orders for two of General Schoepf's brigades to be sent to re-enforce General McCook. An aide-de-camp was mounted immediately and sent to General Thomas, commanding on the right, with information as to the state of affairs on the left, and with orders to push forward an attack as rapidly as possible and to send a division to the center column to replace the strength it would lose by re-enforcing McCook on the left. The result was that the re-enforcements sent to McCook, part of them however by General Gilbert before he received General Buell's order to send them, checked the enemy on the left, and night came on before the order to attack on the right could be executed.

Question. What were the reasons in the mind of the commander of the Army of the Ohio, as far as you know, which caused the delay of the army in advance of Perryville after the battle; when did the division of General Sill join the army; how soon after its arrival did the army march, and how, pending that delay, was the time employed in bringing forward necessary supplies and ascertaining the movements of the enemy?