Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-02-11
Summary of Gen. Pope's Official Report
of his Virginia Campaign.

paign in Virginia has at length appeared.
It's Published in the New York papers,
and is of great length. The following is
a summary:
Gen. Pope was assigned to the command
of the Army of Virginia June 26, 1862.
That army consisted of three corps: the
first under Gen. Fremont, the second un-
der Gen. Banks, and the third under Gen.
Mcdowell. These forces were widely
scattered and more or less demoralized.
Gen. Pope's first labors were directed to
partial reorganization of his army, end to
the redistribution of the separate corps in
such a way as to cover the Shenandoah
Valley, and at the same time bring them
within supporting distance of each other
About this time occurred the series of
battles on the Chickahominy, which re-
suited in the withdrawal OF McCleilan's
forces TO James River. Gen. Pope was of
opinion that Mcclellan should rather have
moved his army, if any change of base
were necessary, toward Hanover Court
House in order that the two might be able
TO cooperate, and addressed letters to
that effect to the President aud to Gen.
Mcclellan. 1t was apparent from the
latters reply that no harmonious cooper
alton was TO be expected from him. and
Gen. Halleck was accordingly placed in
command over both armies.
Before Gen. Pope took the field it had
been determined to unite the two armies
of Virginia and the Potomac His mis-
sion was therefore TO protect the front of
Washington, secure the Valley OF the
Shenandoah, and cover the retreat of
Mcclellan from the Peninsula II the
enemy, as was feared. should throw his
whole force toward Washington, his ad-
vance was to be resisted at all hazards, to
give time for McClellan's arrival on the
Rappahannock.
The campaign commenced with sue
cession of cavalry forays on the enemy's
lines, part of which were successful, but
the most important of which-against
Gordonsville and the railroad beyond
entirely failed. owing, says Gen. Pope, to
Gen. Hatch's disObedience of orders. The
general advance began on the 7th of Au-
gust. Gen. Bayard was in front of Cul.
pepper Court House, to guard which place
Gen. Pope moved his whole force on the
Sth of August. On the 9th, Banks was
ordered forward toward Cedar Mountain.
His forces, represented at Ia, 900 men, did
not in reality exceed 5000, discrepancy
AON sSS PidtLSus Liz HSiC W
hold the enemy in check until the main
army could come up. Gen. Banks, never
theless, believing himself stronger than
the enemy, under jackson, LETT the position
which he had at first taken up, attacked
the enemy and drove him some distance,
but was in turn attacked by heavily supe-
rior forces, and repulsed with severe loss.
es. This action lasted about an hour and
a halt, and was the battle Of Cedar Noun
tair. Pope came up at dusk with REIN
forcements, drove the enemy back into
the woods with artillery, and held the po-
sition IN readiness for battle next day.
Jackson, however, tell back, the next day
was hot, and there was no conflict. On
the night of the 11th Jackson retreated
across the Rapidau.
On the 14th of August, Pores army
was reinforced by the arrival of Gen,
Reno with 5000 men, and he thereupOn
moved forward toward the Rapidan, hold
ing this advanced position till the 18th,
when he became satisfied that the whole
force OF the enemy was in his front. and
bis position 70 longer tenable. He deter
mined therefore to withdraw his whole
army behind the Rappahaunock, and &C
complished this retreat in good order Oh
the 18th and 10Th. The enemy followed
and during the Dist and 22d endeav0red
to cross the river at various points, but
was repeatedly foiled. Unable to cross,
the Rebels, while keeping a heavy force
in front of the position at Rappahannock
Station, began moving their main body up
the river toward Waterloo Bridge, with
the purpose OF turning Gen. Pope's right
flank. The report details with great mi
nuteness the position and movements of
Gen. Pope's forces while this attempt was
progressing. Owing to the necessity of
keeping up his communications with
fredericksburg. says Gen. Pope, he was
uhabie 70 prevent the accomplishment of
the enemy's plan. By the night of the
25th, however he had abandoned his pur-
pose to mask the lower fords of the Rap
pahannock, toward Fredericksburg, and
determined to mass his forces on the War
renton turnpike, and between Warrenton
and Gainesville, and TO give battle to the
enemy on his right or left ''as he might
choose" The celebrated raid on CatletL'S
Station he'd already occurred on the night
of Aug. %. Reinlorcements were prom
iSed from Washington. but did not arrive,
and Jackson suddenly emerged from
Thoroughfare Gap, in the rear or Gen.
Pcpe's army, and entirely cut eft his com-
mrnications with the capital
On The morning of the 9th, Gen. Pope's
forces, including Heintzelmsn and Porter,
who had reached Warrenton Junction,
Numbered 800 men, and with this
strength Gen. Pope undertook to divide
the forces of Gen. Lee from those OF Gen
Jackson. Tie three days battles OF the
9th, 2Sth, and Doth followed. Rockers
division attacked Ewell on the afternoon
OF the 27th. and defeated it with loss, but
IN the effort nearly exhausted it, own sup>
ply of ammunition. Porter was therefore
ordered forward at l O'clock on the morn
:aS OF the 26th, bnt failed to comply with
tie order. The right flank OF the army
was, IN consequence, left wholly unpro.
tected, bat jackson, unaware OF il, pushed
on by way eft Centerville, and Pope dis
trlbuied his force in pursuit, reaching
Manassas junction with kesrney's divis-
ion and Reno's corps about noon OF the
2Stb, less than an hour after Jackson had
retired. Hooker, Kearney. aud Reno were
Immediately ordered forward, and late in
the afternoon Kearney drove the enemy's
rear guard from Centreville and occupied
the river. Mcdowell and Sigel marching
toward Centrevills encountered Jackson's
advance retreating toward Thoroughfare