HEADQUARTERS FIRST ARMY CORPS,
December 19, 1862. (Received 10.50 a. m.)

Colonel J. B. WALTON,

Commanding Battalion Artillery:

COLONEL: The general commanding directs that put your battalion in position. The signal guns of this morning seem to indicate a second attempt on the part of the enemy.

Very respectfully, &c.,

G. M. SORREL,

[21.] Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST ARMY CORPS,
December 19, 1862. (Received 12.15 p. m.)

Colonel J. B. WALTON,

Commanding Battalion Washington Artillery:

COLONEL: I am directed to say that you may move your batteries back to camp, as the alarm appears to be without foundation.

Very respectfully,

G. M. SORREL,

[21.] Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS BATTALION WASHINGTON ARTILLERY,
Near Fredericksburg, Va., December 21, 1862.

CAPTAIN: The sum of money subscribed by this battalion for the aid of the Charleston sufferers, never having been called for, still remains on special deposit at Richmond. It is proposed, in view of the fact that already enough aid has been extended to the Charlestonians, that the fund, amounting to $1,391, be handed to the mayor of the city of Fredericksburg for the benefit of its patriotic and suffering citizens. You will lay the matter before your company this evening at retreat and report the sense of the subscribing members at once.

By order of J. B. Walton, Colonel commanding:

W. M. OWEN,

Adjutant.

(To captains of companies.)

[21.]

HEADQUARTERS BATTALION WASHINGTON ARTILLERY,
Near Fredericksburg, Va., December 23, 1862.

Lieutenant General JAMES LONGSTREET,

Commanding First Army Corps, Army of Northern Virginia:

GENERAL: The officers, rank and file, of this battalion, desirous of promptly responding to the invitation contained in your Congratulatory Order, Numbers 53, December 18 instant, after the battle of Fredericksburg, have unanimously agreed to contribute for the relief of the heroic and suffering citizens of that city and amount of money remaining in bank in Richmond, originally subscribed to the relief of the Charleston sufferers. The case immediately presented by the condition of the sacked, pillaged, and destroyed city of Fredericksburg warrants, in the opinion of the subscribers, the diversion of this fund from its original intention, and I am therefore requested by them to pay over