vance line of General Couch. If you will report in person or by a staff officer at General Couch's headquarters, or mine, will inform you as to position. General Sykes will be on the right of the road, you on the left.

Yours, very respectfully,

DANL. BUTTERFIELD,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

WILLCOX'S HEADQUARTERS,

Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862-6.30 p.m.

Major-General HOOKER:

GENERAL: Sykes' brigade in position behind the creek or race; one brigade on the right of the road, where we were; one on the left; one in reserve, behind the left brigade. Ammunition on hand.

Humphreys, as directed, in rear of Sykes'; no report yet of his condition. Griffin's division, First Brigade, ammunition exhausted; heavy loss. Second Brigade, ditto; not as long as the First. Third Brigade ammunition not entirely exhausted. First Brigade in position on the left of where Humphreys was; ammunition exhausted. Will try and send you further reports as I get them.

Very respectfully, yours,

DANL. BUTTERFIELD.

What orders for the night or the morning?

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
December 13, 1862-7.10 p.m.

Major-General HOOKER, Phillips House:

General Couch requests that Sykes be sent to-night on that road to relieve Howard's division, out of ammunition. Your order was for him to hold that position. Shall I comply?

BUTTERFIELD

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
December 13, 1862-9 p.m.

Brigadier-General SYKES:

GENERAL: You will relieve the advance line now occupied by General Couch. General Humphreys will be placed on your left. Ammunition for artillery and infantry must be filled up to-night. Artillery ammunition can be obtained on application to General Hunt, chief of artillery. An aide of General Howard, at Couch's headquarters, will conduct you to the position on the right of the road.

BUTTERFIELD,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

FREDERICKSBURG SIGNAL STATION,

December 13, 1862-1.30 p.m.

General BURNSIDE:

I am losing. Send two rifle batteries.

COUCH,

General.