H. W. Halleok to Robert C. Schenck, March 7, 1863

Major-General SCHENCK, Baltimore:

GENERAL: The substance of your dispatch* in regard to Winchester was telegraphed to General Hooker, who replied that no considerable forces of the enemy could possibly be in front of General Milroy, and that he was probably “‘stampeded,” asusual. General Milroy seems to be a very unreliable man, and hardly fit for such a position. Can you not make a better disposition of him?

In regard to reconstructing the railroad to Winchester, the Secretary of War is of opinion that to do so at the present time would be a mere waste of public money.

I have already communicated to you my opinion in regard to Winchester. It is a mere post of observation, or, in military phrase, a post in the air. The Upper Potomac is a mere line of defense, not a base of operations. It is, therefore, injudicious to risk any large number of troops at Winchester, and these must retire if there be any serious danger that the enemy will cut them off from Harper’s Ferry.

General Milroy’s plan of operations is contrary to every military rule. To move an army up the Shenandoah while Hooker operated from the Rappahannock, would be to repeat the same old error of distant parallel lines, with the enemy between them, ready to concentrate upon and crush our divided forces.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,