Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-16
Special Correspondence Of The Chicago Times
From Washington.


The War around WasAinqfon-A Reuierc OF
Pope's Campaign in Vuginia-The Object OF
the Campaign not 10 make a DiUersion in
tGror Of MeCieiian-Subsequent Movements Of
the CONFERENCE.-The Rationale Of the Mary
land InraS~n-The Design Of the COnfederates
is simply 10 Capture Washington.
WASHINGTON, Sept. III.
Pope's campaign in Virginia having come to
such a disastrous and ignominiOus termination,
his friends here are making desperate efforts TO
gloss over his shameful incompetency by throw
ing the blame of his retreat upon other officers.
The most impudent attempt of all is that which
tries to make out the sole desigl,oi Pope's cam
paign toward Richmond was to tsake such d.
version on the Rappahannock as would enable
General Mcclellan to eyacuate the Peninsula in
safety! Such is the ground which is gravely
assumed and seriously maintained here by the
friends of Pope and Stanton and the foes of
Mcclellan. 1t is necessary, therefore, to refute
this piece Of unbushing audacity.
The real facts of the case are these:
Disguised at last with the insubordnaton and
imbecility of Fremont, the President, early in
July, relieved him of his command, and placed
under Pope's command the combined armies of
Banks. Fremont, and Mcdowell. including
Sigel's division, Schurz's brigade, and the troops
that had been serving under General Shields.
These forces were-Banks's corps, $4,000;
McDOwells corps, 10000; Fren.onts corps 40,
900; Sgel's division Is 900; Schurz's division,
1O,0O0-total 10000. Included in these were
5000 cavalry, and over 100 pieces of artillery.
On the 18th of July. Pope assumed command of
this magnificent army, and issued to his soldiers
that bombastic address in which he said, among
other foolish things:
Meantime desire to dismiss from your minds
certain phrases which am sorry to find much in
vogue among you.
IL hear constantly OF taking strong positions
and holding them-of lines of retreat, and of
bases of supplies. Let us discard such ideas
LET us study the probable lines OF retreat of
opponents, and leave our own to take care
of themselves.
LET us look before us and not behind.
Success and glory are in the advance
disaster and shame Turk in the rear"
These were the principles upon which his cam
paign conducted; and behold the result.
Disaster and shame lurked in his rear" sure
enough By "not looking behind him, by dis
carding his base of supplies" the enemy slipped
in his rear, possessed themselves of his supplies.
enough to feed their army for many weeks, and
captured even his baggage and official papers.
but anticipate.
On taking the field, Gen. Pope ordered by
Gen Halleck to advance on Richmond by way of
Culpepper Ii twas understood that Gen. Halleck
was convinced of the impracticability of taking
Richmond by way of the Peninsula, but that he
and Pope thought it might be done from the
North. Hence Pope's expedition to the Kappa
hammock. It's disgraceful results so fresh in
the minds of your readers that | need not allude
u them.
The idea that Gen Mcclellan needed any 'di
version" to be made in order that he might get
his army away from the Peninsula in safety is
perfectly absurd From the time he arrived at
Harrison's Landing. on the % of July, until he
left il, on the 18th of August, the enemy made
no attemp, to disOdge or even to annoy him. II
would have been madness for them TO have done
so: and they knew il. This thing is To be no
ticed about the military movements of the Con
federates: they never undertake impossibilities;
and they never fail to seize an opportunity OF
doing ANYTHING which they are sure they can do
As soon as Gen. Mcclellan had established his
position at HarrIson's Landing, they that be
had saved his army Their tear was, that he
would be reinforced there. and would renew FROM
there the attack on Richmond Hence it was
that, until the 18th of August, they kept such an
immense force at Richmond They knew that
Pope was coming down on them from the North
with 100 900 troops But they rated Pope at his
true worth They knew that they had far more
to fear from McClellan's $1,000 veterans than
from Pope's whole army. Therefore il was that
while they sent Gen jackson with ~ 900 men
to fight Pope. they still kept 100000 troops al
Richmond and the Peninsula watching Nc
Clellan
The battle of Cedar Mountain was fought Au
gust 9 Jackson. with his - 900 troops de
feated Pope, and forced him to retreat to Culpep
per But this did not divert" the DOC. 600 rebe
troops away from Mcclellan. They hung around
him in every direction. They were at Richmond
They were at Fort Darling. They were at Pc
tersburg. They were at City Point They wer,
ri Dancing Point They were at Malvern Hills
They were at Turkey Bend They we're AT his
right hand and on his left. and before him
From the day the evacuation began. on the stt
OF August until the day it was completed, In,
18th. the Confederate force around Mcclellan
ouinumbered him two to one.
Then, however they began 20 pour toward The
North. Then they that the movement o.
Pope toward Richmond was not feint; that "a
him had been committed the task Of taking Rich
moud; and that McClellan's army vas 10 becOm,
Pope's reserve force. The battle OF Cedar Noun
tain. fought on the 9th. had merely che ket
Pope's advance In order 70 save Richmond, ht
must now be driven back
This task was reformed by the Confederate
army between the 18th and 3lst of August And
80 completely WAS the work done that Pore
whole army would have been annihilaied III il
had not been for the gallant conduct of thos,
very officers and soldiers of McCelans army
Heintzelman. Kesrney. Hooker. Porter and sum
ner-whom Pope now seeks 10 cry down an,
against most OF whom he has had the mpudence
to prefer charges
AZ A. relief 10 know that the President is II
full possession of the facts OF this case II,
knows that Pope was sent South to take Rich
mond and that il was Hallecks intention 10 re
iniorce him with McClellan's army: and that il j.
Ropes wretched mismanagement that has ono,
more placed Washington in the attitude OF a be
siered city knowing this, he has dismi<se,
Pope from the command Of the Army OF Viz
CANA and | believe he thinks he has foane
some aeld of usefulness Tor him at the West
Hun,ililling a. the fact j., Il is nevertheless 4
fact. that the Confelerates occupy NJ this mo
pent the same position AZ Ccuierville that the,