To Milroy From Abraham Lincoln October 27 1863

              In June last a Division was substantially 
lost at, and near Winchester, Va.  At the time it 
was under Genl Milroy, as immediate Commander 
in the field.  Genl Schenck , as Department Commander 
at Baltimore, and Genl Halleck, as General-in-Chief, at 
Washington.  Genl Milroy, as immediate Commander, 
was put in arrest, and subsequently a Court of Inquiry 
Examined, chiefly with reference to disobedience of 
orders, and reported the Evidence. 
The foregoing is a synoptical statement of the Evidence 
together with the Judge Advocate Generals Conclusions. 
The disaster when it came, was a surprise to all. 
It was very well know to Genl Schenck, and 
Genl Milroy, for some time before, that Genl Halleck 
thought the division was in general danger of a 
surprise at Winchester, - that it was of no service 
there commensurate with the risks it incurred – and 
that it ought to be withdrawn; but although he 
more than once advised its withdrawal, he never 
positively ordered it. 
Genl Schenck, on the contrary, believed the service 
of the force at Winchester was worth the hazard, 
and so did not positively order it withdrawal, until 
it was so late that the Enemy cut the wire and 
prevented the order reaching Genl Milroy. 
Genl Milroy seems to have concurred with Genl 
Schenck in the opinion that the force should be 
kept at Winchester, at least till the approach of danger.