the absenting of the soldiers visiting their homes previous to the arrival of the army at Louisville in proportion to what occurred after the army arrived at Louisville?

The straggling and desertion at Louisville and after the arrival of the army at Louisville was very much greater than at any time previous.

Question. Under the military laws of our service and the habits of the people were such absenting to be expected or not in any army of volunteers on arriving near home?

In any army of volunteers such absenteeism I think cannot be prevented by our laws of discipline. They always have occurred in similar cases since I have had any experience in the army.

Question. Were they milder or less in the army at that time than they would have been in any other army under similar circumstances?

I always considered that army one of the best disciplined armies of the country. It might perhaps be my partiality for that army which formed the opinion that they were less in that army than they would have been in any other.

Question. You refer in one part of your examination to the discipline instilled by General Buell having shown itself in that army from the battle of Shiloh to that of Stone River; what had General Buell's discipline to do with the battle of Stone River?

In my judgment a great deal. No one had had a part in disciplining that army before General Buell. General Rosecrans took command of it on the march; he never had it together except at Nashville. His time there was occupied necessarily in preparing an advance upon Murfreesborough. The entire discipline of that army I ascribe to General Buell. Up to that time perhaps it is reasonable to say that the entire discipline of the army is to be ascribed to General Buell. He had command of it for a year. General Sherman had preceded General Buell I believe in the command of that army. General Anderson had preceded him. A portion of the army had been somewhat disciplined by these two commanders; but I think it is only just to ascribe the discipline of that army to General Buell.

Question. In what manner were the effects of that discipline shown at Stone River?

It was shown, certainly in my command, by the steadiness with which the men met and repulsed the enemy under extraordinary circumstances. When their flank was turned, the right and center of our army driven away from them, when a fight was actually going on in their rear, the steadiness with which the troops still fought and maintained their ground was the very highest evidence of extraordinary discipline. I think that even with the troops who were driven back in considerable confusion the fact that the officers were enabled to stop them on the field to get them ready for another fight was a high evidence of their good discipline.

Question. Do you think that discipline had anything to do with saving the army at that fight?

I am sure it had everything to do with it.

Question. With Louisville as our base of supplies and the railroad north of Nashville interrupted and effectually broken up, as you stated in your testimony, could or could not the Army of the Ohio have been safe long at McMinnville as regards supplies even though communication was open to Nashville?

I should have considered it very unsafe.

The Commission adjourned to meet March 6, 1863, at 10 o'clock a. m.

CINCINNATI, Friday, March 6, 1863.

The Commission met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present; also the judge-advocate and General Buell.