To Col Donn Piatt From RH Milroy June 30 1863

              Baltimore 

		June 30th, 1863 


Colonel 

	I have been compeled by 
the exigencies of public duties connected 
my late command, to defer until 
this time, a report of the recent operation 
about Winchester. 


	Having no reports from brigade commanders 
and not even an opportunity of confering 
with them, I am still unable to give a de- 
tailed report. A sense of duty to myself and 
to the officers and soldiers which I had the  
honor to command requires that I should 
submit some general statements. 


	I occupied Winchester with my command 
on the 25th of December last and continue 
in its occupancy until  Monday Morning 
the 15th inst. When for reasons which will 
appear in the sequel of this report, I was 
compelled to evacuate it.  When I first 
occupied Winchester the Valley of the Shenan- 
doah from Staunton to Strasburg was 
occupied by the rebel Genl Jones with a 
force variously estimated at from five 
to six thousand men, and constituted prin 
cipaly of Cavalry.  Inboden at the same 
time occupied the Iacapen Valley with