[CHAP. XXVIII.

Question. I ask you, general, in reference to what he did; whether he did his duty; whether it was done with ability as a general, if you know.

The two divisions besides my own under his command were in the fight and behaved well, and I suppose that they were under the immediate control and direction of General Gilbert. So far as I could learn in regard to the management of those two divisions General Gilbert behaved well, though I know nothing of the part he took in it personally. He gave me no directions as to what I should do during the day. All the directions I obtained from him were as to what I should do the night previous to the battle as officer of the day, and what I did on the day of the fight was done, I must say, upon my own responsibility. I do not think I saw General Gilbert any time during the day of the fight. What directions he gave to his other divisions I am unable to say, and cannot therefore say whether he displayed great military skill or not.

Question. Had General Gilbert's entire force been engaged in that fight what effect would it have had upon the fortunes of the day, in your opinion?

My opinion is that the fortunes of the day would have turned a great deal more in our favor than they did.

Question. At the time you were approaching Perryville was it known to the army what the movements of Kirby Smith were-in what direction he was marching?

I learned that information had been obtained to the effect that Kirby Smith was marching in the direction of Harrodsburg from the north of Harrodsburg; that a portion of his army and General Sill's division had a slight engagement near Hardensville, I think in Shelby County, and perhaps another slight engagement near Lawrenceburg, 20 miles north of Harrodsburg.

Question. At what time on the morning of the 9th was it known to your army that Bragg was moving toward Harrodsburg and was the object of that movement understood?

I do not know at what time it was reported at headquarters. I learned it between 7 and 8 o'clock in the morning. I do not know what was the object of the movement. I suppose what was the object, but do not know certainly. I was satisfied myself that they were anxious to get out of our way.

Question. Had our army moved from Perryville on the morning of the 9th to Danville, or in that direction, what would have been the effect, instead of going to Harrodsburg?

I think the effect would have been to have checked them at Camp Dick Robinson, provided our army had continued to move in the proper direction beyond Danville. There was but one way of escape, in my opinion, for them from Camp Dick Robinson, and that was was left entirely open.

Question. By your moving toward Harrodsburg instead of Danville?

Yes, sir.

By General DANA:

Question. What was your rank and the character of your command in the Army of the Ohio from the time Bragg crossed the Tennessee River during the retrograde movement of the Army of the Ohio?

I was brigadier-general of the volunteer force, and in command of a brigade comprising four regiments and one battery. From October the 9th, the day after the battle, I was in command of the First Division, and have been up to this time.

Question. Do you know anything, during one or two days prior to the battle of Perryville, of General Gilbert taking possession of a spring of water for the exclusively use of himself and his staff?

I knew nothing of it personally; I only heard that such was the fact. General Gilbert ordered me the night before the battle to place a guard over a pool of water for the use of the men.