and in the center and kept so busy that I did not leave the lines. General McCook sent word to me by an aide to see him at Russell's house, I think it was; it was just in the center of the rear of our lines. That was late in the afternoon, and as we approached the house two or three batteries opened upon us from a point between us and Perryville with shell, and it was the most rapid firing I have ever yet seen or heard. I do not know whether the shells struck the house or not, but the air seemed full of them. I think I saw as many as four or five burst at a time. When I got near the house I was informed that General McCook had just left and was gone over toward the left center of the line. There I found the Fifteenth Kentucky falling back and a brigade of the enemy which had turned my right approaching from beyond the house. My time for the next three-quarters of an hour was taken up in repelling that attack, and I could not leave to hunt up General McCook, the attack was so fierce and the result of the enemy's success would have been so disasters to me; so I did not see General McCook; that night he was on the ground; I could hear of him, but could not get to leave my men to see him until after dark. The enemy pressed us so hard that I had not a moment's time to go anywhere. Not having seen General McCook I rode up to see General Buell, hoping to see General McCook there. Being late in the evening, I supposed he had left and gone to General Buell, with whom I had an interview and told him the result of the day. I told General Buell we would require re-enforcements if the enemy renewed their attack in the morning. I remember when I said to him that they night renew their attack in the morning he said, "We will not wait for them to attack; I will attack them at daybreakJanuary

I went back them to General McCook and told him General Buell wanted to see him, as all the commanders of corps were going to meet at General Buell's headquarters. He left about 11 o'clock at night to see General Buell, and directed me to contract my lines and take another position on some hills there, which I did about half past three in the morning.

I understood from General Buell, in substance, that he was prepared to make an attack, and did not want to frustrate his plans by sending troops to the left unless absolutely necessary, and that that necessity could be avoided by an early and vigorous attack at or near Perryville, and I was satisfied myself that if they were attacked there they could not fight us on the left, as that swept around by a sort of left half wheel and would have placed the enemy rather in the rear of the main army when they advanced and they could not have staid there. The general instructions were to get my men so close together that I could hold my position there so as to let the army attack with the force designed for that purpose.

On my return from General Buell's headquarters I found that General McCook had not left the ground at all, but had called at my headquarters several times to see me, and I found him there on my return. He then went with me and we selected a new line of battle, which he desired me to take while he went to see General Buell. I received during the day several orders from General McCook to advance bodies of troops. I do not remember all the orders now. I received orders at the beginning of the fight, I remember very distinctly, to advance certain regiments to the front, which I did, to support the troops of Jackson and Terrill.

Question. At about what time was it, general, that this heavy firing occurred near the Russell house that you spoke of?

About three-quarters of an hour before night.

Question. When you visited General Buell's headquarters do you know whether you were the first to inform him of the action?

I was not the first. I told the general about the fight. I thought it had been an exceedingly hard one, but the general was pretty cool about it. I told him that I thought he did not appreciate the fight we had had, and that it was the hardest fight I had ever seen. He said he did appreciate it; that late in the afternoon he had heard of the battle; and my impression was that it was between 3 and 4 o'clock that he got the information, as he said, from and aide of General McCook that a battle was going on and re-enforcements were needed, and that he had ordered re-enforcements as soon as he got the information that they were required. His remark as to re-enforcements was called forth by a remark of my own that we had much needed them during the day. I recollect telling him about the enemy's constantly pressing forward without caring whether they were killed or not; and he remarked to me that there seemed to be no advance of the other side, or words to that effect, and I told him that we had a little more than we could do to hold our own. It was very clear to my mind, from all that occurred there between General Buell and myself, that he did not fully appreciate the fight we had, though as the news came in from various persons he learned the true state of affairs. It was clear to my mind that the information he had received about the matter did not exhibit to him the true state of affairs on the left. Some of General Buell's aides had been over on the battle ground while the fight was