Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-09-19
OFFICIAL REPORT
OF Gen. Pope, of the Operations OF th'
Army of Virginia.

Of Gen. Pope, of the Operations of the
Army of Virginia.
I have the honor to submit the fol-
lowing brief sketch Of the operations of
the army, since the 9th of August:
[ moved from Sperryviile, Little
Washington and Warrenton, with the
corps of Banks aud Sigel, and one divis-
ion of McDowell's corps, numbering in
all thirty thousand men, to meet the
enemy, who had crossed the Rapidans
7sas advancing strpUr- etlut pep fseF.-
The movement toward Gordonsville had
completely succeeded in drawing off a
large force from Richmond, and in re-
lieviHg the Army of the Potomac from
much Of the dangers which had tllreat-
ened its withdrawal from the Peninsula.
The action of August 9th, at Cedar
Mountain. with the forces under Jack
son, which ompelied his retreat across
the Rapidan, made necessary still
further leiniorcements of the enemy
from Richmond; and by this time, it
being apparent that the Army of the
Potomac was evacuatin the Peninsula,
the whole force Of the enemy around
Richmond was pushed forward with
great rapidity to crush the Army of
Virginia, before the forces evacuating
the Peninsula could be united with it.
[ remained at Cedar Mountain. and
still threatened to cross the Rapidan,
until the 18th of August, at which time
Gen. Robert Lee had assembled in my
front, and within eight miles, nearly
the whole of the rebel army. AS soon
as [ ascertained this fact, and knew that
the Army Of the Potomac was no longer
in danger, drew back my whole force
across the Rappahannock, on the night
Of the 18th and day of the 18th, without
loss of any kind, and one day in advance
of General Lees proposed movements
against me.
The enemy Immediately appeared in
my front at Rappahannock Station, to
pass the river at that bridge and the
numerous fords above and below, but
without success. The line of the Up
per Rappahannock, which l had been
ordered to hold, that the enemy might
be delayed long enough in his advance
upon Washington to enable the forces
from the Peninsula to land and effect
junction with me, was very weak, as it
could be crossed at almost any point
above the railroad bridge, by good fords
By constant vigilance and activity, and
much severe fighting for three days, the
enemy was gradually forced around
from the railroad crossing to Waterloo
bridge, west of Warrenton.
Meantime my forces had been much
reduced by loss in battle, and by ia
tigue and exposure, so that although
had been Joined by detachment under
Gen. Reno, and the other division of
MeDowells corps, my force barely num-
bered forty thousand men. On the 22d
a heavy rain fell, which rendered the
iords of the river impossible for twenty
four hours. AS soon as 1 discovered
this, l concentrated my forces and
marched rapidly upon Sulphur Springs
and Waterloo bridge, to drive back the
forces Of the enemy which had succeeded
in crossing at these points. This was
successfully done and the bridges de-
stroyed. | passed one day, or rather
part of one, at Warrenton and beyond.
The enemy still continued to move
slowly around along the river, masking
every ford with artillery and heavy
forces Of infantry, SO that it was i'm
possible for me to attack him, even with
the greatly inferior forces under my
command, without passing the river,
over fords strongly guarded, in the face
Of very superior numbers. The move
ment of Jackson toward White Plains,
and in the direction Of Thoroughfare
Gap, while the main body of the enemy
confronted me at Sulphur Springs and
Waterloo bridge, was well known to me,
but [ relied confidently upon the forces
which [ had been assured would be sent
from Alexandria, and one heavy division
which L had ordered TO take post III the
woods at Manassas Junction.
was entirely under the belief that
these would be there, and it Was not un-
til | found my communications inter.
cepted that was undeceiyed. [ knew
that this movement was no raid, and that
! il L II