have desired to explain or elucidate by witnesses which I have been required to call up in the intervals between these witnesses. I can hardly undertake to do that now; it would perhaps take as much time as you have occupied in the whole investigation. It therefore works injuriously to me and perhaps so the public interest.

The JUDGE-ADVOCATE. I have said before that the Government rests where we are. I have no other evidence to introduce and no new matter to bring before the Commission. So far as documentary evidence is concerned, I have laid it before the Commission as far as I have it. I wish all the books of the Department of the Ohio to be brought before the Commission. There is scarcely at telegram or a letter but has some bearing upon the case. I have some 80 to 100 pages copied for the purpose of throwing light upon the campaign of Kentucky and Tennessee, and as soon as possible will proceed to arrange them to be read before the Commission.

The PRESIDENT. As we were required to make up our opinion as to what is evidence before the court, it might be contended, and some members of the court might with great plausibility, if not with truth, contend, that if a document was not read before this Commission - whatever its importance might be - it ought not to be received as testimony. It should be read for another reason, and that is in justice to General Buell - it should be read with a view to notify him that such a document was considered as evidence. He might object to it, and it might become of importance to offer some explanations concerning it. I call to mind a letter addressed to General Nelson while he was in command at Louisville, the purport of which was, as I understood, to evacuate the city of Louisville, dropping down and taking a position the other side of Salt River. I regard that letter as of considerable importance, and if General Buell ordered it he may wish to explain it, and I should be much gratified to hear it.

General TYLER. In looking over the books submitted to the Commission I cannot find even the order on which General Buell acted in the campaign of Kentucky and Tennessee.

General BUELL. I think I have explained to the Commission that the instructions that were originally given to me were given orally by General Halleck.

The PRESIDENT. If that is the case it may become necessary for us to have General Halleck before us, inasmuch as under the present arrangement General Buell is not himself a witness.

General BUELL. The meaning and intent of those instructions were that may army should advance into East Tennessee, occupy first Chattanooga, and prospectively other points. I proposed to General Halleck that I should have the privilege of directing those operations by whichever route I might think proper. General Halleck first assented to that, but he subsequently notified me by telegraphic dispatch that upon further consideration he thought the best plan would be to proceed directly to Chattanooga, and I believe that dispatch is the only documentary evidence of those instructions I have.

The PRESIDENT. Is that on the record?

General BUELL. I think it is. The tendency and object of those instructions were to direct my army against Chattanooga, that being deemed the first important point.

The PRESIDENT. Before it is settled by the Commission that the Government rests its case I beg the judge-advocate to examine the books introduced by General Buell, and take therefrom such letters, dispatches,&c., as he thinks necessary and important for the elucidation