[CHAP. XXVIII.

Question. Did you sign this petition?

I decline to answer that question, sir.

Question. To whom do you consider that a general is responsible for the performance of his official duties-to his superior who places him in position or to his subordinates under his command?

I think he is responsible to his superior and to the people of his country, the subordinate officers included.

Question. Do you think this responsibility extends to the propriety of any move he may make?

In some instances I should think it did.

Question. How do you suppose a general should go to work to obtain the opinion of the subordinate under his command in regard to the propriety of any movement he was about to make?

I know no other means than by consultation.

Question. To what limit do you consider the responsibility to his subordinate officers extends, going down?

Under ordinary circumstances it is the duty of a general commanding an army to consult more especially general officers as low down as the commanders of divisions, and through them he could obtain the opinions of intelligent and well-informed officers of a lower grade. Under extraordinary circumstances there are many instances in which a general commanding an army would be greatly benefitted in his movements by the consultation of officers of even the very lowest grades; and I think during the movements of our army in Kentucky there were many instances in which it would have been advisable that General Buell should have consulted the officers who were familiar with the country, and who, in my opinion, would have been of great service to him.

Question. Would it not be necessary, if the general had pursued the course you speak of in obtaining the opinions of officers of a lower grade, after consultation with higher officers, to postpone the movement until the officers of the lower grades might be consulted upon the special move about which they had no previous information?

It if were necessary to consult a great many officers, as a matter of course the movement would have been postponed to some extent; but generally speaking it would not be necessary to consult a great many officers; and the information necessary to be obtained from those officers who were acquainted with the character of the country and the strength of any particular position could be obtained very readily and very quickly.

Question. Is there any method or manner you know of by which the commanding officer can make these subordinate officers, to whom you think he is more or less responsible, responsible for the disasters which may ensue from following their advice?

General DANA. I object to that question as irrelevant.

The court was then cleared. On being reopened the witness proceeded.

The WITNESS. If an officer was called upon by his commanding general for information on any particular subject connected with the movements of the army, and that officer, having it in his power to give such information, should make a misrepresentation of facts, I do not see why he should not be court-martialed; but as a general thing, as I said before, I do not suppose there would be any way of reaching this officer for any disaster which might occur from following his advice.

Question. In your opinion do you consider that want of confidence which you state existed in General Buell was somewhat due to his not consulting the officers under his command enough?

I do, sir. There seemed to be a general complaint on that subject even with the officers who in the opinion of every one should have been consulted.