The next is a communication official to General Buell"

"I have just conversed with a citizen of Parksville. He says there is no enemy at Danville nor on the Lebanon and Danville pike. He thinks they have turned toward Harrodsburg. I have sent McCook with his cavalry to observe and report. Crittenden's corps is advancing upon Walker's Spring. Have met no resistance for an hourJanuary

This message was from General Thomas. I am unable to say whether it was before or after the order, which is dated 12 o'clock. All these messages were transmitted on the 9th of October.

There is another message to Colonel Fry:

"General Smith advancing. His skirmishers within three-quarters of a mile of Walker's Spring, on the Perryville pike. So far they have met no resistanceJanuary

I do not know the hour at which this was received.

Question. Do you know where Parksville is?

No, sir; I do not.

Cross-examination by the JUDGE-ADVOCATE:

Question. Would the transmission of such a message spoken of by Lieutenant Fitch be in accordance with the custom or rule governing your signal corps?

General BUELL. I have not the privilege of cross-examining the witness, and would suggest that the question is not as distinct as the judge-advocate himself would desire to make it. It might be in accordance with certain rules, but not in accordance with those rules which would make it an official message.

The JUDGE-ADVOCATE. (In continuation of his question.) In other words, is it the habit or would it be within the rule for any post of your signal corps to send information of an important character without its being sanctioned by an officer outside of the corps?

It would certainly; if he chose to take the responsibility of sending that message to General Buell it would be within the line of his duty. But it is usual, when there is a general officer with whom an officer is stationed, for any information of that kind to come from that general officer. There are times when our corps is sent out as reconnoitering or observing officers, and then they report on their own responsibility; but if they are with any general officer the communication comes usually from him.

Question. Would such a communication as that claimed to have been sent by Lieutenant Fitch have been recorded as the others were?

If he had sent it as an official communication from himself to General Buell, giving information, it would have been recorded and reported or should have been; but conversations between officers while on their stations are not reported, even though they contain information given from one to the other.

Question. Would it not have been the duty of officers at Station Numbers 1 to have communicated that intelligence to headquarters, whether it came officially or not?

I am hardly prepared to say whether it would or not, but I have no doubt they would have done so; knowing that the communication might have come from a general officer, they would perhaps not have done so. I do not think it would have been imperative for them to have done so at all.

Question. Do you know of any messages received or sent along the line that day from headquarters respecting the firing in front?

I do not sir.

Question. Do you know of any information or any inquiries such as you considered of a conversation character passing from Numbers 1 to the front that day?

I do not.

Question. If there had been any such would you have known it?