Joseph Hooker to Lieutenant-Colonel Richmond, December 15, 1862

Lieutenant-Colonel Richmond, Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac : In the event it should be determined to withdraw the whole or a part of the forces in Fredericksburg, I request, in view of the great number of infantry and artillery, that the intentions of the major-general commanding may be communicated to me as early as practicable. It is the opinion of the general officers here that not less than 15,000 men will be required to defend the city, in case it should be deemed expedient by the major-general commanding the Army of the Potomac to hold it at all. An aide-de-camp awaits the orders of the major-general commanding on this subject. As my command in Fredericksburg is composed of a portion of Major-General Sumner’s grand division and a portion of my own, I request that the major-general commanding will designate the divisions to remain in the city, in case it should be his desire to have it held. Very respecttully, &c.,

JOSEPH HOOKER,