Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-07-16


The following address of Gen. Pope to the
soldiers under his command, was telegraphed
to eastern papers, Monday evening The
copies of it that came into our hands were inn
perfect, and we waited for better version of
what he said The following is given as au-
thentic and reliable:
$40 the Officers and Soldiers of the army
of Virginia BY special assignment of the
president of the United States, have assumed
command of this army. l have spent two
weeks in learning your whereabouts, your
condition and your wants, in preparing you
for active operations, and in placing you in
positions from which you can act promptly
and to the purpose.
have come TO you from the west, where
we have always seen the backs of our enc
mies-from an army whose business it has
been TO seek the adversary, and to beat him
when found-whose policy has been attack
and not defence. In but one instance has the
enemy been able to place our armies in de-
fensive attitude. presume that l have been
called here to pursue the same system, and
to lead you against the enemy. 1t is my pur-
pose to do so, and that speedily.
am sure you long for an opportunity to
win the distinction you are capable of achiev-
-lIS opportunity L SIldll GLuGdNOl ~ CIV L
to you. Meantime, desire you to dismiss
from your minds certain phrases which | am
sorry to find much in vogue amongst you.
hear constantly of taking strong positions and
holding them-of lines of retreat-and of
bases of supplies. Let us discard such ideas.
The strongest position soldier should de-
sire to occupy is one from which he can most
easily advance against the enemy. Let us
study the probable line of retreat of our oppo-
nents, and leave our own to take care of
themselves. Let us look before us and not
behind Success and glory are in the adj
vance. Disaster and shame turks in the rear.
Let US act on this understanding, and it is
safe to predict that your banners shall be in
scribed with many glorious deed and that
your names will be dear to your countrvmen
forever. John PoPE,
Major General commanding.
This is like everything Gen. Pope has done
since the war began. He has invariably been
swift, earnest, persevering, and successful,
never looking out ''strong positions" in which
to assume defensive attitude, never waiting
anywhere to be attacked, and never quailing
before difficulties in the way to the enemy.
His march from Commerce, Mo-, to New
Madrid through such an ocean of mud as no
other general in the service has either seen or
dreamed of, shows what can be done by ac-
tiyity and resolute purpose. He went to New
Madrid and won great and brilliant success
in less time than some men would have en-
ployed on the probable depth of the mud and
on the time that must elapse before the sum-
mer sun would come and dry it.
From the beginning, Gen. Pope has been
very much in earnest to crush out the rebel
lion. Months before the close of Mr.. Blu
chanans administration, he saw clearly what
was coming, and denounced the reasonable
policy that allowed the conspirators to con-
troll the movements of the government. In a
public meeting at Cincinnati, he gave full ut
terance to what he thought and felt, and, in
consequence, was placed under arrest by di-
rection Of the imbecile if not traitorous ''Old
Public Functionary." He was then a captain
in the regular army. When Mr.. Lincoln be-
came president, he was properly recognized,
and employed against the rebels. In Missou-
ri, at Island No. 10, and then in Mississippi
with Gen. Halleck's army, his bravery, skill
promptitude, and many brilliant successes
placed him among the foremost men il
the army, and made it fit that he should be
appointed to command the ''Army of Vir-
ginia." A Washington letter has the follow
ing in regard to his ''plans"
General Pope has made his preparations
so that if the rebel leaders see fit to put fifty
or sixty thousand troops under jackson to
threaten Washington again he will be ready to
meet them. Better than that, he will improve
upon the old tactics; if they do not send
jackson this way Pope will compel them to
do so or lose their important railway con-
nections at Gordonsville and Staunton. This
Is evident to all since the advance force I'M
der General Hatch, entered Culpepper Court
House. This is the furthest advance into the
heart Of Virginia yet made. Here is the
plantation Of Mr.. Wallach, Of the Evening
Star, and his family resides at this place. 1t
is eighteen months since he has been able to
visit his home or family, he can now safely do
so, unless our forces are compelled to retreat
by the advance of jackson in overwhelming
numbers. 1t is probable that the next fight
ing will be THIS side OF Richmond, and not the
other. If so, the veteran soldiers of the pen
insula army will have the quiet and rest they
SO much need"
Gen. Pope has now under his command
what remains of McDowell's corps, more than
half of this corps having been sent at various
times to Gen. Mcclellan, the small army that
was Fremont's, and the men remaining under
command of Gen. Banks, the whole number.
ing, perhaps, little over forty thousand men
since the removal of Gen. Shields command
to the army on James river. He had concen
trated his troops at Warrenton and From
Royal some days since, and there are indica
tons Of a movement in the direction of Cor
louisville; but it is nowise likely that his rea
intentions will be announced to the public
prematurey. 1t is, however, quite safe t,
say that Stonewall jackson will not find i
easy to repeat his old tricks in the Shenan
doah valley.
Gov. THOMAS II. SEYMOUR of Connect
cut, whose name was kindly used as one o
the vice presidents of the late Union meetin,
in Hartford, has publicly disclaimed all sym
pathy with the meeting and its purposes HI