purpose, and which may be important or not according to the interpretation or bearing given to it. Nor shall I remark upon any of the incidents of this investigation.

The subjects submitted to the Commission by the War Department are as follows:

First. In reference to General Buell suffering the State of Kentucky to be invaded by the rebel forces under General Bragg.

Second. In his failing to relieve Munfordville and suffering it to be captured.

Third. In reference to the battle of Perryville and General Buell's conduct during that battle and afterward suffering the rebel forces to escape from Kentucky without loss or capture.

Fourth. Such other matters touching the military operations aforesaid as in the judgment of the Commission shall be beneficial to the service.

On the 30th of May, after the evacuation of Corinth by the rebel forces, I received a communication from Major-General Halleck, in forming me that his first object was to open the lines of railroad centering at that point from our rear and flanks, and directing me to put one of my divisions on that duty on the Memphis and Charleston road east of Corinth. I accordingly detached the division of General Wood on that service. The army of General Pope was following up the retiring enemy in the direction of Baldwyn. On the 4th of June 1 received instructions to re-enforce General Pope, near Booneville, with two divisions, in anticipation of an attack from the enemy. I accompanied those divisions myself. The enemy, however, continued his retreat toward Okolona; and on the 9th I received intimation that a part of the force under my command would return to Tennessee, and that i could make my arrangements accordingly. At my request I was authorized to start the two division (Nelson's and Crittenden's) that were with me in that direction. General McCook's division, then at Corinth, was to remain there until relieved by General Thomas' division, which had also been sent to re-enforce General Pope. General Thomas' division originally formed part of my army, but had been detached from my command since the commencement of the advance upon Corinth. I was informed that it would probably rejoin me at a future day for the movement toward Tennessee.

I stopped at General Halleck's headquarters on my return from Booneville on the 10th, and visited them again on the 11th, and during those visits received his oral instructions with reference to the campaign I was to enter upon. Its object was the occupation of East Tennessee and ceratin important points on the railroad through that region of country; Chattanooga, Dalton, and Knoxville were points which it was considered important to occupy. I requested that I might be allowed to choose my own route, and at that interview General Halleck assented, though he had been in favor of moving directly on Chattanooga through North Alabama; but on the 12th I received a dispatch from him saying that, on further reflection, he deemed it best that route he had suggested should be pursued. My own idea had been to strike a little farther north, through Middle Tennessee and McMinnvile.

General Halleck desired that the movement should be made as promptly as possible, but it was a condition that the railroad from Corinth east should be repaired, and it was his idea that I should draw my supplies by that route. I did not concur in his views in regard to advantages of that route and I immediately gave orders for repairing the roads from Nashville through Tennessee and for procuring supplies in that way, but I placed the superintendence of the Memphis