New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-10-02
GEM. PoPE,s CAMPAIGN.
Gen. sigcI's Report.
HRADQUAgTERs FIRST Gov
ARMY OF VIRGINIA, Segtemh"'' ioo1'


r,p o0ru AND 30ri OF AUGUST.
Anar tho hail, ct Cedar Mountain, the retreat O.
ho t,.t corr. RON the Rapdan behind the Rapr ID
4, and the engagements Of that corps lear
ne Rappahannock Station, Freeman's Ford and
sulphur Springs. we advanced to Waterloo bridge
On the same day, we had taken possession Sulphur
Springs. The brigade of Gen. Milroy occupied Il
nostjon on the north siie of the bridf e. extending
lis line of sbarpshootes along the shore CT the
river. The main body Of the CORDS was en-
camped between the bridge and Sulphur Springs
and behind it the corps Of NJ ai.-Gen. Banks, and
Gen. Repo's Division. The enemy had advanced
from RappahaunOek siatOo along the south side Of
the river in line parallel with the route taken by
our troops, and was try ng to Cross q. the above
named ford (Freemans- and the bridges at Sulphur
Springs aud Waterloo. In the night Of the gath OF
August, his cam,-flres extended from Waterloo
bridge 10 JelersoA ,iIlage, distance of four or five
miles, lis main fozee Of about $4,000 men occupying
the latter point.
ysarl in the raorning of the 9th, sharp shirmith
Commenced at the Waterloo Bridge, which was re-
ported to me ~ Gen. Pope to have been destroyed
by Gen Bu1ord, but which found on our arrival
10 be in good order, and strongly defended by the
enemy. While we were taking position or the
north side, the enemy began to break mp his camp
al Jeilersou and To mass his troops on the south
eide of the bridge by noon rs regiments OF in-
iantry sx batteries and several regiments OF cavalry
of the enemy had arrived ard taken their position
| had the night before given notice of the onemy'e
strength aud movements 10 Major.Gen. Pope, ana
now again informed him Of tue petition of affairs, 40
the DISPOSITION he bad made OF our forces was eVi-
ceOtiy based the suTposition thas The enemy
would force the passage OF the rveF between
Bealoton and Waterloo Bridge.
Ia the meantime | had been directed 20 march 20
Fayetteville, and form part OF The center OF the
army to be arranged IL line extending from Wa
t.,loo bridge u Besleion station. In accordance
r with THIS order, Gen Miroy should have been re-
beved IN tie morning Oy brigade OF Gen. Mellow
ell; another brigade Of Tie thru eoTys Mcdowell y
had 10 march 10 Sulphur Springs. u the forenoon
o, the same day Gen. Roberts, OF Nej.-Gen. Pope 4
staff delivered 10 verbal order 10 hold my posi-.
: ton al Waleroo bridge under ali circumstances and
TO meet ice enemy y lie should try % force the pts-
: SAGE of the river and that Gen. Mcdowell would
E be my night with the cavalry brigade OF Gen.
Bufanee zud Gen. Banks Oh my left.
Soon afierward l received int hgence that large
force Of the enemys cavalry had crossed on my
. right and was moving toward Orleans, and that
another force had crossed Oh NY left at Sulphur
Springs, and taken possession OF thst place. iin-
mediateiv ordered Gen. Beardsley with the 9Th New
', York Cavalry and four mountain howitzers to Sui
phur Springs to shell the enemy out of the place
j. which he did. The rest of my cavalry consisting
!, of three companies of the LIST Virginia aud two Of
le the let Maryland ordered toward Orleans for the
N purpose OF protecting my right flank. Meanwhile
ii cannonading kept up near the bridge, and from
n ali indications supposed that The enemy would avail
3 himself Of the opportunity 70 make combined Al
tack against POSITION Therefore sent TO the left 10
4, find Gems Banks and Reno, and TO the light TO look
after Cen McDowelis troOps especially the cavalry
p brigade and not little astonisled to learn that
n Gems Banks and Reno were, by order OF Gen.
\ Pope on their march Beleton and that no troops
. could BE- found on my right, except the cavalry
= brigade Of Gen. Buford, which was encamled four
e miles behind us on the Warren,on road.
e To confuse matters still more, received a dis
i match from Gen. Mcdowell one section Of it
) directed TO Nal ten Banks, asking for news from
his corps and the other directed To myself informing
le me thar would join my pontoon train AT Fayeiie
If Vile | sent this TO Gen. Banks, and Icgucsted hin
10 furnish me with what information ~ could. 70
Z. trat IN the absence Of Instructions might be en-
- gbled 10 direct nv movements properly. also sen,
!. to Gems Pope and Mcdowell, at Warrenton, for an
n EXPLANATION and for Orcers, but Gen Pore badseii
N for WarrentOn Station, aud Gen. Mcdowell did not
4, furnish ne with any instructions. II was now
nearly sunse, and my situation exceedingly critical.
=, Threatened my night and left Hanks an army OF
= $1,000 menacing my front, and separa cd from me
= only by sballow river iordabie at many points for
u infantry AZ well cavalry and artillery-no sup
l. PORTING force within eight ten miles supposed
that wGs not really the intention Of the Command
3 inc General 10 ioGye me in THE position. was
a confirmed III my opinion by She hnswer Of Gen.
Banks, who advised Inc TO march 70 Fayet eville,
: and by the fragnontary paper laying that would
@ Ind my pontoon tram at that point.
: Considering all tAis, | resolved TO march TO
Fayetteville AZ night, snd made my preparation,
accordingly though did not believe IN the correct
q ness Of tue whole plan.
r just at tie moment when my troops were about
10 move one Of my officers returned with an order Of
Gen. Pope, directing Inc TO march 10 WauentOn and
70 encamp there. put my troops in motion In com
J. plaDce with this order, and cautiously witbdre "
! from Waterloo Bridge, az had not single COM any
. Of cavalry TO cover my retreat Before Withdraw.
Ing however ordered the destruction Of the bridge,
n which wac accomplished under the direction Of Gen
Milroy after much exertiOn aud some loss of bfc.
= AT o'clock next morning Aug. 20, rs was entor-
3 ing WaIrentOn With ny rear guard L received
2 another order from Gen. Pope, through Gen. Nc
= Dowe directing Inc TO "iorce the passage Of
Waterloo Bridge at daylight"
As this an impossibiy the troops having
marched the whole night on u very IncOnvcnieut
road, reported 20 MaJor-Gen. Pope this fact, and
, received orders 10 stay at WaIrentOn. During the
4 day, 1 ascertained that the enemy marching by
IhorOughfae Gap 10 Manassas, and on the following
night that his main army war encanped at White
e Plains, the advanced guard east OF Thoroughflre
! Gap, and the rear at Orleans.
4. This news was brought III by all the scouts sent
, out by NE, and cavalry, TO Sperryyiie. SALEM
and Gainesville, and Immediately communities ed by
. telegraph 10 MsjOr-General Pore 1t was also re-
ported 10 me that the enemy was moving during the
night, that jackson would be IN Manassas next day
and that Longsreet had not yet Joined hin, but was
Z two mles from Salem at on Wednesday, the
: 9th. In view Of these facts proposed 10 Gen.
Mcdowell TO whose command the let Corps had
been attached since its arrival at Waterloo Bridge
10 concentrate troops at Gainesville, and thereby
separate Longstreets troops from those Of Jackson
taking the enemy at Manassas 10 the rear, aud, by
forcing him to evacuate Manassas, effect junction
with the army Of Gen. Mcclellan. This movement
was executed