To President Lincoln From RH Milroy June 28 1863

              Copy of a letter to Presdt. Lincoln. 
 
	Baltimore Md. 
		June 28th 1863 
 
His Excellency, 
 
		Abraham Lincoln President U.S. 
 
 
 
						Dear Sir, 
 
 
 
Privately & unofficialy & impelled by a deep sense 
of duty to my country in this trying crisis, I 
appeal to you, who I know to be above prejudice 
and filled with the purest patriotism. I had 
no orders to evacuate Winchester. I was 
told to get ready- send off all surplus stores 
and await further orders. Myself and brother officers 
felt sure that Hooker would occupy the whole of 
Lee’s Army, and I felt entirely able for all the Reb. 
forces in the valley under Jenkins & Imboden. 
And the salvation of the Baltimore & Ohio R. R. 
depending depending upon our holding Winchester 
as long as possible, and mistaking the advance 
of Lee’s army by way of Front Royal, for a feint 
by a few hundred Reb. Cavelry to hold me in check 
till Stewarts much talked of raid passed somewhere 
I held on at Winchester till I was surrounded by 
a Reb. force of about 60,000, as I have since learned.  
 
 
 
I fought & repelled them for two days when they 
massed and carried the greater portion of my out- 
works by storm. My ammunition and provisions being 
nearly exhausted, I quietly left my fortifications