New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-30
CAMPAIGN OR THE ARNY on VIRGINIA
GEN. POPE'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
ACTIVE MILITARY OPERATIONS.
Great Endurance andBraveryOf our Troops
NHE.YoRK. January n. 1868.


Several of the reports of Corps Commanders have
not vet reached me, bat so much time has ELAPSED
since the termination Of the campaign, that do not
Ssel al liberty 10 withhold this report longer
The strange misapprehenson Of facts concerning
this campaign, which, though proceeding from irres
ponsibe eOErces, has much prossessed the public
mind makes il necessary for me 10 enter more into
detail thGn should otherwise have done, and TO EN-
body in the report such Of tho dispatches and orders
sent and received as will make clear every statement
which 10 contained in ii.
On the 26th day of june 1862, by special order of
the President Of the United States, assigned to
che command of the Army Of Virginia. That Army
was constituted as follows.
First Corps under MsjoT-Gen. Fremont.
Second Corps under Maior-Gen. Banks
Third Corps, under Major Gen. Mcdowell.
In addition TO lhese three corps, a small and un-
organized force under Brigader-G eneral sturgis
posted in the neighborhood Of Alexandria, and was
then in process of being organized for field service
The forces in the intrepchmeDts around Washington
were also placed under my command. All the dis
possible movable forces consisted OF the three corps
rrst named Their effective strength Of Infantry and
artillery as reported 10 me as TO lows;
EremOht's Corps eleven thousand five hundred
strong; Banks's Corps, reported at fourteen thoue.
and aud live hundred. bat in reality only aoon eight
thousand; MeDoweiPh Corps, eighteen thousand
four understanding total of thirty eight thous.
end men
The cavalry numbered about five thousand, but
.most of il was badly mounted aud armed, and IN
poor condiion Tor service. These forces scat
isred over wide district of country. not within
supporting distance of each other, and many of the
brigades and divisions were badly Organized and 10
. denUralized condition. This was particularly the
with the army corps OF Major General Ere"
mont, O sad report OF which was made to me by
General Sigel, when be relieved General Fremont in
command vi Ibs corps
My irst lsbOrs were directed 10 the reorgsDiza-
ton of some Of the divisions and brig AIDES Of that
corps, and TO supplying the whole force with mach
Of lie material absolutely necessary for troops 10
tbe held. Tue corps Of Banks and Fremont were in
the valley Of the Shenandoah, between Winchester
and Middletown the bulk Of the forces being IN the
vicinity OF the latter place.
One division OF McDowells corps was at Manas-
sas junction, With Its advance thrown forward 10
Catletts Station The other dIvislol was posted In
The vicinity oil Falmouth, opposite fredericksburg
When first assumed command Of these forces, the
troops under jackson had retired from the valley OF
she Shenandoah and were 10 rapid march toward
Richmond, that, VI that tune, tbere was no force
Of tue enemy OF any consequence within a week.
march OF any Of the troops assigned TO my command.
IL was the wish of tue Government that should
cover the City OF Washing from ANY attacks from
she direction Of Richmond make snch dispositions
necessary to the safety of the Valley
Of the Shenandoah and at the same time to operate
upon the enemy's lines OF communication in the di
reetion of GoTdoDsville and Charlottesville, as e
draw of, If possible, considerable force Of The enc
nay from Richmond, and thus reiieve the operation
against that city of the Army OF the Potomac. Toe
first object had In view 10 concentrate as fal
- possible all the movable forces under my com
nsDd, ana 10 establish aem in sueh positions BEET
TO effect the objects set FORTH Ii seemed TO that
she security Of the Shenandoah Valley was not best
"a ned nv llQyi faaIf
but that the necessary results could be bet accom-
plisbed, and the other objects with which was
charged best promoted, by concentrating there
forces at some point or points from which, If
any attempts were made TO enter the valley
Of the Shenandoah from Richmond, should be ABLE
BY rapid marching, 70 interpose between such force
and tie main boay OF the enemy, and cut Oh lie
treat, l ielt conhdeut and this confidence was
Justified by subsequent results that considerable
force Of the enemy would attempt 10 enter the Val
ley OF the Shenandoah wnle the forces under nv
command were 80 posted as 10 be able without diff.
Guilty 10 intercept It's retreat and fall upon its rear.
accordingly sent orders TO Major Gen. Sigel com.
nanding ine First Corps 10 move forward from
4Iiddleiown, cross the Shenandoah at Front Royal,
and pursuing the west aide Of the Blue Ridge 20
take post at Sperryville by passing through Luray
Gap. AT the same time directed Ma. Gen.
Banks, crossing the Shenandoah at the same point
70 move forward and take post between six aud Ten
miles east OF Sperryville. Gen. Mcdowell was
ordered 10 move Ricketts, Division Of his
corps from Manassas junction 10 Waterloo
Bndge, the point where the turnpike from
War nton 10 Sperryviile crosses the Upper Kappa
hammock. King ID vi.ioD Of The same corps IL was
thought best 10 leave al Fredericksburg, 70 cover
the crossing Of The ksppsneDnOck III that point aud
TO protect the railroad there to Acquis Creek and
abe puOic buildings which bad been erected ut the
latter place. While yielded TO this wish OF
ale War Department, the wide separation OF
shis Division from tho main body Of the amy
and The ease With which the enemy would be aLle
20 iHterpose between them, engaged my at
teDtion and gave me very serious uneasiness. Willie
these movements were al progress, commenced TIE
series OF batIles which preceded ald attended Ihe
retreat Of Gen. Mcclellan from the Chickahominy
toward Harrsons Landing. When first den. Me-
Clelan began " intimate by bis dispalches that he
designed making this movement toward Jams
River, / sges,ed 10 the President OF the Cni.td
STATES tie iDpOlcy Of such movement, and the
serious consequences winch won,d be likely TO result
from II, and urged UPON him that no should send
orders 10 Gen. Mcclellan that If be unable to
maintain his PoslIlon upon the Cbickahomi0y, and
were Psessed by superior forces Of the enemy, To
uass Ills whole force the north side OF that
sueam even at the Task Of losing much material OF
war, and enoeayor 10 make MS way in the direc-
Son Of Hanover Court-House; but in no event
20 retreat with his army further TO the South
shaD the White House Oh York River I stated IN
tbe Pieeldent that the retreat 10 James Rive WIS
carrying Cen. Mcclellan away from any r, On orce
rnenss Nat could posslDv DO sent him within a rea.
sonable time, ana was absolutely deprivIng him Of
Any substantial aid from tho forces under my con-.
Hand that by ans movement the whole army of The
enemy would u interposed between his army aud
mine, and that they would tben 90 al liberty ~ strike
In ether direction, they might consider most
eivaLtag eOus; that this movement TO james iSer
would leave entirely unprotected except IN 30 Tar
chs small force unOer NY command WAS able TO pro-
sect IT., tue whole region III front Of Washington,
and that IL would then therefore be Impossible 10
send any Of the forces uGder my cOnnand 10 re-en-