To Gen Milroy From David Barton Feb 20 1863

              General R. H. Milroy	Winchester, Va. 
	Dear Sir,		February, 20/63 
	In the course of our conversation yes- 
terday, you requested me to state with frankness, the  
conduct & demeanor of your army in & about Winchester,  
as comfort with the several armies, which have  
preceded it.  As I am a resident of the town & have  
remained here with my family during every stage  
of the war & every succession occupancy of the place  
by Federal troops, I feel proposed to give an answer  
to your inquiry.  The presence of large bodies  
of strange & hostile men, in a small town with  
narrow streets inhabited principally by old men, women,  
& children, is under the most favorable circumstances,  
irksome & inconvenient to the inhabitants.  In the win- 
ter season it is doubly so because of the wretched conditions  
of the streets, & the scarcity of fuel & other winter supplies  
	Your occupancy of the town has been so far du- 
ring a very cold, wet, & inclement season.  Frequent  
snow storms with cold rains & sleets with very  
few clear days have marked thus far the whole  
period since you came here.  Under these circum- 
stances I do not hesitate to state that the conduct of  
your troops compares favorably with that of any  
of the troops who have been here.  Their good order  
& aid department on the streets has been the subject  
of remark among our citizens, but few of whom have felt dis- 
posed to judge you or your army with any favorable