Summary:
General in Chief Henry Halleck replies to Robert Schenck concerning a reported January, 1863, Confederate advance on Winchester from Staunton. Halleck reports Ambrose Burnside's opinion that the Confederate advance is only a false alarm.

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Maj.-Gen. SCHENCK, Baltimore:

Washington,

January 7, 1863

GEN.:

Maj.-Gen. Burnside does not attach any credit to the telegrams of Gen. Milroy in regard to enemy's movements. Gen. Milroy has cried "wolf" so often that he may not be believed when the wolf really comes. As I have already stated to you, I do not think it safe to keep Gen. Milroy at Winchester with any large force.

The country between the Kanawha Valley and Staunton, if I am correctly informed, is such that a military force cannot operate there in the winter season. Gen. Cox has sent two regiments from the Kanawha to Gen. Kelley, and as soon as the snow is a little deeper I shall direct him to send more. He is of opinion that the forces at Staunton are to move against him. I do not believe it; but will permit him to retain his forces, at least for a short time. If matters turn out satisfactorily in Kentucky, the whole of Gen. Cox's forces may be added to your command.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. W. HALLECK,
Gen.-in-Chief.

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Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 21, Serial No. 31, Pages 955, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.