Summary:
In this March, 1863, letter, Union General Robert Milroy writes General Robert
Schenck concerning the importance of repairing the railroad from Harper's Ferry
to Winchester. Milroy states that doing so will make the capture of the Valley
as far as Staunton easier. He also discusses the strategic importance of the
Shenandoah Valley in general, and the desirability of encouraging latent
unionist sentiment in the area.
Maj. Gen. R. C. SCHENCK:
WINCHESTER, VA.,
March 9, 1863.
DEAR SIR:
Pardon me for again calling your attention to the over-whelming importance of the repair of the railroad from Harper's Ferry to this place at the earliest possible moment. When it is remembered that this Valley is the key, not only to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, but to all of West Virginia; that it is necessary to establish a permanent base at this place for supplies and operations, for taking and occupying the Valley south to Staunton; that the transportation now in use between this and Martinsburg would, by the repair of said railroad, all be released and be made available in an advance up the Valley; that said advance will be greatly delayed, if not defeated, unless the transportation is thus released and made available; that the season for active operations is at hand; that the repairs of said railroad would give assurance to the inhabitants of this place and surrounding country that the Government had firmly re-established its power, and revive and call out a strong Union sentiment, new suppressed and held in check by our present apparently doubtful occupancy, surely the wisest strategy, economy, and effort for the public good would require its immediate repair, cost what it may.
I am, general, with great respect, your most obedient servant,
R. H. MILROY,
Brig.-Gen.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 25, Serial No. 40, Pages 133, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
