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rse appointment as a corps commander was not made during the war。 Fortunately； the battle of Perryville was his first and only appearance in that position。 Buell； after expressing his thanks for McCook's services on that field and in the campaign； in his official report says： 〃It is true that only one serious battle has been fought； and that was incomplete； and less decisive than it might have been。 That this was so is due partly to unavoidable difficulties which prevented the troops； marching on different roads； from getting on the ground simultaneously； but more to the fact that I was not apprised early enough of the condition of affairs on my left。 I can find no fault with the former； nor am I disposed at this time to censure the latter； though it must be admitted to have been a grave error。 I ascribe it to the too great confidence of the general commanding the left corps （Major…General McCook）； which made him believe that he could manage the difficulty without the aid or control of his commander。〃 Buell was not notified of any attack by the enemy on his left until over two hours after the engagement was begun。 He then hurried to the field； and sent the necessary supports forward； at once checking the enemy； and made disposition of his troops for battle。
With a willingness to lay down command that characterized all the commanders of the Army of the Cumberland when the authorities in Washington regarded the good of the service as requiring it； Buell placed the new commander in full possession of all plans and information that he possessed； and without a word left the troops that were to win undying fame on other battle…fields； largely by reason of the training he had given them during the period of his command； half a month less than one year。
The Comte de Paris； in his 〃History of the Civil War in America；〃 in writing on the battle of Shiloh； where he refers to the massing of the artillery by Grant's Chief of Staff； Colonel Webster； says： 〃The fate of the day depends upon the preservation of these heights； whence the enemy could have commanded Pittsburg Landing；〃 and on the following page adds； 〃Nevertheless； at the sight of the enemy's battalions advancing in good order； the soldiers that have been grouped together in haste； to give an air of support to Webster's battery； became frightened and scattered。 It is about to be carried； when a new body of troops deploying in the rear of the guns； with as much regularity as if they were on the parade…ground； receives the Confederates with a fire that drives them back in disorder into the ravine。 This was the brigade of Ammen； belonging to Nelson's division； that rushed forward so opportunely。〃 In speaking of the second day's fight he says： 〃At a signal given by Buell； his three divisions； under Nelson； Crittenden； and McCook； put themselves in motion at the same time。 The soldiers of the Army of the Ohio； constantly drilled for the year past by a rigid disciplinarian； and trained by their long marches across three States； are distinguished by their discipline and fine bearing。 The readiness with which they march against the enemy wins the admiration of the generals； who； like Sherman； have had to fight a whole day at the head of raw and inexperienced troops。〃
The greatest service that General Buell rendered to his country was as the organizer and disciplinarian of the mass of the raw； undrilled troops that were hurried to the front under the need of the hour； and who； unaccustomed to military or other restraint； had all the freedom that characterizes the American sovereign both in speech and action。 To take these troops by the thousands and make an army of fifty to seventy…five thousand trained skilled soldiers； who； in later days； were to do as splendid fighting as the world ever saw； was a stupendous undertaking。 General Buell not only did this； but accomplished the task in time to bring some of these soldiers that he was justly proud of to the field of Shiloh； where； under his eye； they met the enemy like veterans。 Buell's military training and habits of life led him； however； to one error。 He was so good a soldier himself； that he failed to recognize the distinction between the regular soldier in garrison during times of peace and the thinking volunteer during the active campaigns of the rebellion。 The latter could not and would not be made the mere machine the former becomes； and Buell's failure to appreciate this caused great ill…feeling against him at the time in his army。 Then； again； Buell's earlier military training in the bureau office he held so many years unfitted him for the handling； on the battle…field； of the large number of troops which composed his command。 But very few generals during the rebellion were able to successfully handle on the battle…field as large an army as was under Buell。 In fact； the general who has sufficient talent as a good organizer and drill…master to enter into the details necessary to bring an army out of raw troops； has not the military genius required to handle a large army in fighting and winning great battles。 But Buell rendered many valuable services； in the camp and on the field； to his country。 It was Buell who planned the Fort Henry； Fort Donelson； and Nashville campaign； which Halleck put under his hat； and proceeded to carry out as HIS original idea； being careful to say nothing in regard to his plans until they were so far executed as to render any action on the part of Buell and his command simply that of a supporting column。 Then to Buell is due the credit of the second day's fight at Shiloh。 That day's battle was the fight of the Army of the Ohio with Lewis Wallace's division； General Grant giving Buell largely his discretion in the movements of the troops。 Whitelaw Reid says of him； in 〃Ohio in the War；〃 〃He came into that action when； without him； all was lost。 He redeemed the fortunes of the field； and justly won the title of the 'Hero of Pittsburg Landing。'〃
The order placing Rosecrans in commandGeneral Order No。 168； War Department； of date October 24； 1862created the Department of the Cumberland； embracing that portion of the State of Tennessee lying east of the Tennessee River； and such portion of Georgia and Alabama as should be occupied by the Federal troops。 The troops in the field were designated in the same order as the 〃Fourteenth Army Corps。〃
General Rosecrans assumed command on October 30th at Louisville。 On November 2d he arrived at Bowling Green； and on the 7th he announced； in General Orders； the division of his army organization into 〃the Right Wing；〃 〃the Centre；〃 and 〃the Left Wing；〃 under the command respectively of McCook； Thomas； and Crittenden； with five divisions in the centre and three in each wing。 He instructed Thomas to advance Fry and Dumont's divisions to Gallatin； and to push rapidly forward the repairs of the railroad to Nashville。
Up to this time the movements of Bragg's army remained undeveloped； and no disposition of the Federal forces could be safely made without the knowledge of what Bragg's plan of operation would be。 That he would ultimately attempt the capture of Nashville or force a battle for it there could be but little doubt。 Not to fight for Nashville was the abandonment of Tennessee。 Kentucky surrendered without a blow produced such demoralization in Bragg's command that to have given up Tennessee without a struggle would have either compelled a change in the commanding officer of that army or a disbandment of it； so far as the Kentucky and Tennessee troops were concerned。
General Halleck's brilliant paper campaign into East Tennessee again was produced and aired with a show of the most profound wisdom； based on the extreme ignorance of the situation and surroundings。 Buell's forethought in concentrating the army within supporting distance of Nashville became apparent on the appearance of the advance of Bragg's army at Murfreesboro； reinforcing Breckinridge's command； which had been left in Tennessee to enforce the 〃blockade of Nashville。〃 This was another grievance the Kentucky troops had against Bragg。 All the Kentucky infantry troops under Bragg were in Breckenridge's command； and they were exceedingly anxious to return to the State with Bragg's army to visit their friends and relatives and aid in recruiting that army。 Bragg's distrust of these troops was such that he refused to allow them this privilege； and his action in holding them in Tennessee； just out of Kentucky； did not materially increase his popularity with them。 Breckinridge had established his headquarters at Murfreesboro and assumed chief command； with about ten thousand troops under him； over one…third of which were cavalry under Wheeler and Forrest。 With this force Breckinridge endeavored to enforce the siege of Nashville； using his cavalry to prevent the gathering of forage and supplies by our troops from the surrounding country。 These foraging parties were constantly sent out； going as far at times as ten miles on these expeditions。 The main deprivation the garrison suffered during the six weeks of the siege was in having nearly all communication cut off from their friends in the North； and while they received nothing； they embraced every opportunity of sendin