Item description: Order, dated 21 January 1863, from G. Moxley Sorrel, General Longstreet’s chief of staff, to Edward Porter Alexander.

Item transcription:

Head Quarters 1st Army Corps
Near Fredburg, January 21st 1863

Colonel

Genl. Longstreet desires you to have your batteries assigned to all the available positions in our front. It is meant that these positions shall be indicated to the several Battery commanders, that at the alarm, they may promptly occupy them. It will be necessary before you make these assignments to learn where the batteries that have been left with Genl. McLaws Anderson & Hood are expected to be planted, in order that no confusion or misunderstanding may arise.

When the alarm is given the Batteries thus assigned, will at once assume their positions, and the Genl. wishes you to cause the ramaining ones to be posted near here in some convenient position ready to be massed or directed at any point where they may be wanted.

I am, Col., very respecly.
Yr. most obt. sevt.
G.M. Sorrel
A.A. Genl.

To Lieut. Col. E. P. Alexander
Comdg. Artillery of 1st Army Corps