I think that with a wind blowing as there was that day the cannonading was not more distinctly heard at this headquarters than where I was. The wind was blowing very heavily.

Question. Was the wind blowing from his headquarters toward the firing or from the firing to his headquarters?

I think the direction of the wind was to his left from the direction of the firing.

Question. At the hour that General Gilbert sent his report in answer to General Crittenden's inquiry as to what the firing was, what was the actual condition of things in reference to his own and McCook's command?

With reference to his own, he reported that he was putting his troops in camp for the night. In reference to Crittenden's command, it had been in position for several hours and the troops were quiet in camp, with the exception of Smith's division, a portion of which was skirmishing with the enemy in front. Smith's division was moving up gradually to gain the hills which overlooked the creek and was skirmishing with the enemy till dark. The other two divisions of Crittenden's corps were in position and quite in supporting distance of one another. I cannot state what the condition of McCook's command was, because I had no knowledge of it at that time.

Question. The last question is intended to get the information as to whether the reply of General Gilbert at that time gave the correct information which was desired of him, or whether, from your subsequent knowledge, you do not know that his statement was incorrect.

I learned at General Buell's headquarters that night that the information received from General Gilbert at that time gave the correct information which was desired of him, or whether, from your subsequent knowledge, you do not know that his statement was incorrect.

I learned at General Buell's headquarters that night that the information received from General Gilbert was not a true statement of the case, but at the same time I believe General Gilbert reported all he knew at the time.

Question. Is General Gilbert's ignorance of the actual condition of things at that time a sufficient proof that he was not at those parts of the field where the presence of a commander is most called for while his troops are engaged?

No; I do not thinks it is. General Gilbert had the superintendence of three divisions, and while superintending those three divisions he could not reasonably be expected to know what was going on at a distant point from his command. There was no unusual delay in the reception of his reply to General crittenden's note; therefore I think he must have been with his corps.

Question. How many years is it since you first commenced the study of the military profession; how and in what scenes of service have you been engaged since that time?

About twenty-nine years. I have served in the Florida war, in the Mexican war, and in this rebellion.

Question. Placing yourself in the position of General Buell, in command of the Army of the Ohio, at the time he commenced his retrograde movement toward Nashville from Northern Alabama, and being possessed of such information as he was then probably possessed of, what at that time would probably have been your plans and dispositions in reference to performing your duties in the best possible manner so as to have subserved the best interests of your Government, to have indicted the most damage on the enemy, and to have properly guarded, to the best of your ability, the States of Tennessee and Kentucky? Keep in view in answering this question the information which General Buell probably got from day to day during the whole course of the movement.

I think it very likely that I should have pursued the same course that he pursued, although I believe now, from the information I had he should have met the enemy at Sparta and fought him there. The information I had, however, at that time was probably very different form that General Buell had. It is my opinion that could we have fought the enemy at Sparta we could have destroyed his army there.