EVENING SESSION.

General WOOD'S examination continued.

By General BUELL:

Question. State, if you please, what you think is likely to be the justice of criticisms upon the details of complicate military operations after the facts have all developed themselves, and the many circumstances, whether real or supposed, which necessarily influence the judgment and acts of the commander are not at all in view.

My opinion is that such criticisms are in a large majority of cases unjust and erroneous.

Question. Did you ever hear that it was my purposed to abandon Nashville in following the rebel army into Kentucky, and have you any reason to believe that the very reserve was my determination and nobody else's?

The day that I arrived in Nashville and prior to meeting General Buell, as I described in a former answer, I heard a report or rumor, from what scource I do not now remember, that General Buell had entertained some thoughts of abandoning Nashville. The report went further, to say that there had there had been some heated conversation and disagreement between General Buell and Governor Johnson on this point. This was during the morning of the 6th of September, 1862. I met General Buell, by his order, to report to him, about 1 p. m. of that day. I had a good deal of conversation with General Buell, at his request, in regard to the campaign probably ahead of us and in regard to what might possibly be the movements and design probably ahead of us and in regard to what might possibly be the movements and design of the enemy, his supposed position from the best information at that time that we could gain of it, and of what means should be adopted on our part to meet the moments of the enemy. As I have said, the conversation was had at the request of General Buell, who spread out his maps for my examination. During the whole conversation, in which General Buell, with more than usual freedom and communicativeness with me, discussed his plans, there was not the slightest intimation of his intention to abandon Nashville, but, on the contrary, a statement of his intention to retain Nashville if possible. In the following day I had another conversation with General Thomas and General Buell at General Buell's headquarters, when the subject of the maintenance and defense of Nashville was discussed. I was present when General Buell informed General Thomas that he would leave him (General Thomas) in command at Nashville, and heard him give General Thomas various suggestions as to the defenses, &c. There was no intimation at that time of an intention to abandon Nashville, but every evidence given to induce me to believe that it was General Buell's fixed determination to hold it. I heard General Buell tell General Thomas what forces would be at his command to help him to defend Nashville, and that in his opinion this force would be sufficient to hold it against double the number; and it was further my understanding of the conversation in which I participated, as I have said, that General Buell considered that he was making sufficient provision for the defense of Nashville. I recollect an instance of that conversation, that General Thomas, after being satisfied that he was to remain at Nashville, said that he desired his own division to say with him, and General Buell told him he could have it. So far as I know this opinion and intention of General Buell was not influenced by any other person.

Question. Do you remember how or from whom you heard this report of a disagreement between Governor Johnson and myself on this question?

I do not remember how or from whom I heard it. It came in so uncertain and vague a from that I attached no importance to it, and considered it one of the thousand idle rumors that float through camps and cannot be traced to any responsible scource.

Question. Was it the opinion in the army on the evening of nigh of the 8th of October that the engagement of that day had resulted in the defeat of the rebel army, or merely the repulse of an attack made upon a part of the Army of the Ohio?

I cannot state what was the opinion of the army, as I had very little intercourse on the night of the 8th with any person that pretended to be informed as to the events that transpired that afternoon, but so far as I heard an expression of opinion there was no belief entertained that there had been a defeat of the rebel army, and an impres-