GENERAL REPORTS.

Numbers 1.-Extracts from Annual report of Major General Henry W. Halleck, General-in Chief U. S. Army.

Numbers 2.-Findings of the "Buell Commission" and accompanying documents.

Numbers 1.

Extracts from Annual Report of Major General Heavy W. Halleck, General in Chief U. S. Army.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
Washington, November 25, 1862.

SIR: In compliance with your orders I have the honor to submit the following report of military operations since the 23rd of July last, when, in compliance with the President's order of July 11, I assumed command of the Army as General-in-Chief:

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When I left the Department of the Mississippi, in July last, the main body of the army under Major-General Buell was between Huntsville and Stevenson, moving toward Chattanooga, for which place they had left Corinth about the 10th of June.

Major-General Curtis' forces were at Helena, Ark., and those under Brigadier-General Schofield in Southwestern Missouri. The central army, under Major-General Grant, occupying the line of West Tennessee and Northern Mississippi, extended from Memphis to Iuka, and protected the railroads from Columbus, Ky., south, which were then our only channels of supply.

These several armies, spread along a line of some 600 miles from the western borders of Arkansas to Cumberland Gap, and occupying a strip of country more than 150 miles in width, form which the enemy's forces had recently been expelled, were rapidly decreasing in strength from the large numbers of soldiers sent home on account of real or pretended disability. On the other hand, the enemy's armies were greatly increased by an arbitrary and rigidly enforced conscription. Whit their superiority in numbers and discipline they boldly determined to reoccupy Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky, and, if possible, to invade the States of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, while our attention was distracted by the invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania and an extended Indian insurrection on the western frontiers.

This plan had very many chances of success, but the timely order of the President of August 4, calling for additional forces, and the patriotic response of the people of the Northwest, thwarted the enemy's wellformed calculations.

General Bragg suddenly transferred a large part of his army from Tupelo, Miss., through the States of Alabama and Georgia, reached

Chattanooga in advance of General Buell, turned his left, and rapidly crossing the State of Tennessee entered Kentucky by Munfordville and Lebanon.

General Buel fell back upon Nashville without giving the enemy battle; then followed or rather moved parallel with Bragg, who, after capturing our garrison at Munfordville, turned off from the main road to Louisville, along which General Buel passed, the latter reaching Louisville without any engagement. Another column of the enemy