Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-02-10
Gen. Pope s Official Report.

HE history OF Ten. rope lIElhla camP alBu'
in the form Of an official report, has oeen pub
lshcd, aud gives a clear and connected account
Of his military operations, from the time he
took the field in virginia, until, at lis own re-
quca, he was relieved from his command when
he army rutqnod into the entertainments about
Washington From this repor., and the orders,
I,spatches and lrre,poudenco connected with
It. We think Gen, Pjpc's military reputation
must. ia Al impartial minds, be yindoated--
Ce.rinly, more active. aud vigorous and bet
ter managed campaign, on the part Of Com
naming General has not been nude during the
war
When Pore frat took the field, be found the
work set for him to do n difficult, with tho
email force q his command, that he then asked
t, be relieved. This request wac not granted
lls then starred towards Richmond with about
40 600 mao, writing to Gen. Mcclellan at the
.ano time ana asking to be advised Of the plan
OF tho campaign on the Peninsula, that be might
act with reference to it and int llgontiy co-opc-
rate with that alyanco On the rebel capital.
Gen. Mcclellan, however, gave Lin an uns4t!s-
factory answer, and he was left no resource but
to act independent Of him, After Pope had
arrived with his advance, half way from Fred
ercksburg to Richmond, ho heard Of the intend
cd change OF base, from the Cbickahominy to
ths James. This canso him to write an earn
cst letter to Gen Ilalleck, showing whatsdyan
tages such a movement would give the roheh'
~ preventing any cooperation Oh ihs Two
Union armies and inviting an attack ny the
rebels upon the army which they deemed the
weakest, and the wisdom Of this ADVICE vas
proved by tho event.
Alter this movement Of McClellan's The rebels
gave Cen Pope continual employment. lie
was instructed to hold them back as long as
possible, until tho army OF the Peninsula could
be Withdrawn, and united with his behind the
Rlppahannock Finding tho whole Of Lee S
army III front Of him, he fell back gradually,
saving all his supplies and transportation, to
tie line Of the Rappahanuock The river was
easily fordable almost any where, aud he was
obliged to defend It for miles agains. the entire
rebel army. lie held it for many days, waiting
with the utmost anxiety for teinforcemcnis from
The army Of the Potomac. A portion Of Lee
army crossed the Rappahannock, many miles
up, and further than Pope's limited number OF
troops would permit him to contest the passage
Of the river. AS soon as he knew OF this, he
determined to cross the river and attack the
enemy in the front and flank A heavy rain,
aud sadlen rise Of the river, however, prevented
this, and he Immediately changed his plan Of
operstious, and moved upon the envy on bis
right The heavy fighting which lasted for a
week, al once commenced, in all Of which, until
tho last day, Pope gallant army were yictori
Gus, aud which would have resulted in crush
ing do'eat Of the rebel army had it not been for
the lack Of CO operation of largo portions Of
the army OF the Potomac, and the positive die
obedience of orders by Gen. Porter. We be
ieve the records Of the war show no better
lighting, and no butter gcneralshp, and no
more skilful strategy than was shown by the
Army Of Virginia in the last week Of Angus,
AMI, had it received the aid it should from the
army just from the Peninsula, it would then
and there have utterly defeated, ii not des
uoyed, the whole rebel army in Virginia.
llelntzslman aud Hooker's corps were prompt
and fought WELL but Porter refused to Gght and
Franklin delayed on the road and arrived too
late.
WO regret that the great length Of this re
port for5lds our publishing it, Itfally, how
ever, yindicates Gen, Pope and his clmpaign
from the uns:lnted abuse heapod upon him and
it, then and since lis absolute verify is estab-
lshed by the testimony in tho recent Porter
Court Martial, aud puts the failure Of the cam
paign whore it belongs, upon Porter and Frank
lin. While Pope was defeated by troachery,
and the men who conspired to this end are now
being lilnized by northern sympathiz.rs with
treason, history is doing, and will do, his cam
paign Justice and establish his military reputa.
ton amcng the very first Of our fighting Gen,
erals.