Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-09-12
General PONG. omeiaI Report.

General POpess Othctai report.
We have not space for the whole of Gen
eral Pope's official report of the recent bat
ties in Virginia. Of his first forward
movement, on the ninth of August, he
says:
al moved from sperryville, Little Wash
ington and Warrenton, with the corps of
Banks and Sigel, and one division Of Nc
DOwelps corps, numbering in all thirty
two thousand men, to meet tbs enemy, who
had crossed the Rapidan and were advano-
on Culpepper. The movement toward
Gordonsville had completely succeeded in
drawing off a large force from Richmond,
and relieving the Army of the Potomac
from much of the danger which threatened
its withdrawal from the Peninsula
After the battle of Cedar Mountain he
says:
meantime my forces had been much di-
minished by actual loss in battle, and by
fatigue and exposure-so that, although I
had been Joined by a detachment under
General Reno and the other division of
General McDowelps corps, my force barely
numbered forty thousand men,"
In describing the battlesin the vicinity of
Bull Run, he thus speaks of Fitz John
Porter, Mcclellan and Griffin in connec-
ton with Fridays fight:
"The action ragged furiously all day, Nc
Dowell, although previously in the rear Of
Porter bringing his whole corps on the
field during the afternoon, and taking a
4hak Iarrfa
To my surprise and disappointment, I re-
ceived late in the afternoon from Porter
note saying that his advance had met the
enemy on the flank in some force, and that
he was retiring upon Manassas Juncticyn
without engaging or coming to the sssist-
ance of our other forces, although they
were engaged in furious action only two
miles distant, and in full nearing of him.
A portion Of his force fell back toward
Manassas, and he Remained, as he after
wards informed me- where he was looking
at the enemy during the whole of the after
noon Of Friday and part Of Friday night,
passing over in plain view to reinforce the
troops under Jackson without an effort to
prevent it or assist US. One at least of his
brigades under General Griffin, got around
to Centreville, and remained there during
the whole of the next days battle, without
coming on the field, though in full view of
the battle which was raging, while General
Griffin himself spent the day in making
ill-natured structures upon the General
commanding the action, in the presence of |
a promiscuous assemblage.
al do not hesitate to say that if the corps |
of Porter had attacked the enemy in flank |
on the afternoon of Friday, as he had my |
written order to do, we should utterly have
crushed jackson before the forces under
Lee could have reached him. Why he did
not do so 1 cannot understand
"0ur men, much worn down BY hard
service and continuous fighting for many
previous days, and very short of provi-
sions, rested on their guns. Our horses
had had no forage for two Gays. I had
telegraphed and written ur gently for "a
lions and forage to be sent us. but on Sat
lrday morning, before fne action was re-
sumed, l received a l'stter from General
franklin, written the day before at Alex
lndria, stating to n .e that he had been di-
rected by Gener'Al Mcclellan to inform
ne that rationS, and forage for my com
nand would be loaded into the cars and
wa CONS as soon as 1 would send
cavalry e'scort to Alexandria to bring
hem up. All hope of being able to main
am my position, whether victorious or
lot var rished with this letter. My cav
'lry Was utterly broken down by long and !
constant service in the face of the enemy,
md Dad as they were, could not be spared |
rom the front, even if there had been time |
o GO back thirty miles to Alexandria and !
VISIT the loading of trains. At the time |
hrs letter was written Alexandria was /
Warming with troops and my whole army |
between that place and the en-
my. at once understood that we must,
f possible, finish what we had to do that /
.ay, as night must see us behind Bull Run,
we wished to save men and animals from |
{ tarvation.
"On Friday night sent a peremptory
,rder to General Porter to bring his com
nand on the field, and report to me in per-
ION within three hours after he received
he order A portion he brought up, but
Is before stated, one of his brigades re-
NAMED the whole day at Centreville, and
vas not in the engagement. The enemy's
leavy reinfOrcements having reached him
n Friday afternoon and night, he began
o mass on his right for the purpose of
rushing our left and occupying the road
o CentreVille in our rear. His heaviest
ssault was made about five o'clock in the
fternoon, when, after overwhelming Fitz
ohm Porter and driving his forces back
n the center and left mass after mass of
IS forces were pushed against our left
/ terrific contest, with great slaughter,
as carried on for several hours, our men
ehaving with frmness and gaIlantry un-
er the immediate command of General
lcDOwell. When night closed, our left
as driven back about a half mile, but
ill remained firm and unshaken, while
II right held its ground.
The report closes as follows:
" Among the officers whom 1 feel bound
mention with especial gratitude, fer their
ost hearty, cordial and untiring zeal and
lergy, are Generals Mcdowell, Banks,
emo, Heintzleman, Hooker and Kearney,
nd many others Of inferior rank, whom
shall take great satisfaction in bringing
the notice of the Government.
" The troops have exhibited wonderful :
ltience and courage, and cannot say too
ucb for them