The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-06-04

come in The official returns give the
losses as 90 killed: 34s wounded: cap
tured or missing. 1000, making a total
of 4.443. Miiroy calims that the cap
lures included 1000 sick and wounded
who were paroled by Early. but Early
says that he sent 10S officers and $3.50
enlisted men as prisoners to Richmond,
while johnson, who intercepted the re-
treat. says that he captured $500 pris-
oners. rs horses and II battle flags.
During this time Rodes had pushed on
for McReynolds's wagon train to Mar
tinsburg. and there encounted small
force under Col. Tyler who held Rodes
off until night. when he drew of his
Infantry to Shepherdstown and his artil-
lery and cavalry to Williamsport, losing
five guns.
The whole affair was a fitting COM
panion piece to the misfOrtunes of Banks
the year before. and added much to the
National humiliation. as it did to the
pride and confidence of the confeder-
ates.
Miiroy Put Under Arrest
Gen. Couch. who had been sent too
late to the scene relieved Gen. Miiroy
at Bloody Run and sent him to Balti-
more. where Schenck placed him under
arrest. He remained so for the legal
period for such an action-eight days
when, upon the recommendation of Gen.
Schenck he was restored to command.
inasmuch as he could more effectively
gather up and reorganize the scattered
fragments of his command than any
other officer.
President Lincoln's Judgment.
A Court of Inquiry was ordered pre-
liminary TO Court Martial upon the
conduct of Gen. Milroy at Winchester.
The report with the evidence was laid
before the President, who rendered the
following decision:
In June last division was substan-
tally lost at and near Winchester. Va.
At the time it was under Gen. Milroy,
as immediate COMMANDER iii the field.
Gen. Schenck. as Department Com
mander- at Baltimore. and Gen. Halleck,
as Commandments at Washington.
Gen. Milroy. as immediate commander,
was put under arrest, and subsequently,
Court of Inquiry examined chiefly
with reference to disobcdience of or
ders, and reported the evidence
'.The foregoing is synoptical state
ment &C the evidence, together with the
Judge Advocate-Gener conclusions
The disaster when il came was sur
prise to ALL 1t was well known to Gen.
Schenck and Gen. Milroy for some time
before that Gen. Hal1eck thought that
the division was in general danger OF a
surprise at Winchester; that it was OF
no service there commensurate with the
risk it incurred. and that it ought to be
withdrawn. But, althO he more than
once advised its withdrawal, he never
positively ordered it.
Gen. Schenck. on the contrary. be-
lieyed the service of the force at Win
chester was worth the hazard. and 50
did not positively order its Withdrawal
until it was so late that the enemy cut
the wire and prevented the order reach
ing Gen. Milroy. Gen. Milroy seems to
have concurred with Gen. Schenck in
the opinion that the forces should be
kept at winchester, at least until the
approach of danger, but he disobeyed
no order upon the subject.
Some question can be made whether
some of Gen. Halieck's dispatches to
Gen. Schenek should not have been con-
strued to be orders to- Withdraw the
force and obeyed accordingly; but nc
such question can be made against Gen.
Milroy In fact. the last order he re-
ceived was to be prepared to Withdraw,
order, which further order never reach
ed him.
Serious blame is not necessarily due
| to every serious disaster, and / cannot
say that in this case either of these Off
GERS is deserving of serious blame. Nc
Court Martial is deemed necessary Oh
proper in the case
"a Lincoln
This affair. however blighted the
promising military ssanding of both
Gems. Miiroy end Sehencis. Miiroy wa:
| later sent Wei aud commanded a
1 =, I.. ia oil