To Gen WF Barry and others From RH Milroy Aug 14 1863

              Washington D.C. Aug 14/63 
 
 
 
To Brigadier General W.F. Barry 
 
Brigadier General J.J. Abercrombie  
 
& Brigiadier General G.A. 
De Russey,  
 
who are detailed under special 
order No 346, to investigate the facts and 
circumstances connected with the evacuation  
of Winchester, by the command of Major 
General R.H Milroy US Vols; and to report 
as in said order specified. 
 
 
 
	Gentlemen.- 
 
Before you organize as a court under  
said order is it my duty to admit & 
I do so with great pleasure, that if 
 your military rank were equal to your 
 personal and military merit, you would  
be in all respects my peers, but as  
there are at this time many officers who 
are Major Generals and who are not in 
active service in the field & who so 
far as I can judge, could have been 
detailed to compose the court under 
said order; I claim that this court