To Maj Gen Hitchcock From RH Milroy Early 1863

              Maj. Gen. Hitchcock 
                   Sir- your circular of the 
22nd Dec. last but. post marked Jan 25th reached 
me a few days ago. I am much pleased that a board has 
been convened  for the purposes [named] (stricken: of remodeling our Army 
Regulations & for amm) Our “Rules & Articles of war & 
Code of Regulations” being made [years ago] for our little  
Regular Army (stricken: in time) are in many respects 
unsuited to the government of our Vast Volunteer 
Army. But I have neither the time or ability 
to point out the defects or suggest the the 
propper amendments. I will only attempt a 
few of each. 
                       
The first defect [I will notice & one] (stricken: I wont) that has often struck me 
& often occasioned me much perplexity  & difficulty 
is our clumsy & inconvenient system of Military 
Courts, which are required to be composed of such 
a number of officers, that while in active service 
in the field the necessary number of officers to compose 
a General Court Martial, often for weeks & months 
at a time cannot be spared from their command  
& if has often happened (stricken: with) in my own command 
that the most flagrant crimes & violations 
of duty have on this account escaped punish- 
ment. A step in the right direction towards 
remedying this evil was taken by the (stricken: passage 
of the) act of Congress abolishing Regimental 
Courts Martial & giving to a single field officer