The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-02-10

L
Yours truly, I. i. NM, - N''
l...,...,,. From the New York Tribune.
synopsis of Gen. POpe's Report
Gen Popo was assigned to the command 0
the army. Of Virginia June 90, 1862. Thai
,rmy consists of three corps: the first under
Gen. Fremont, the second under Gen. Banks
and the third under Gen. Mcdowell. These
forces were widely scattered, and moro or lest
demoral god. Gen. Pope's first labori weie
directed to partial reorganization Of his army,
and 10 the re redislrobution Of the separate
corps in such way as to cover the Shenan
doah, Valley, sud at tho same time bring
them within supporting distance ofeach other
About this time occurred the series OF battles
on the Chickahominy, which resulted in the
withdrawal of McClellan's forces to James
River. Gen Pope was Of opinion that Nc
Clelnn should rather have moved his army
il any change of base was nccessasy, towar 10
Hanover Court House, 10 order that the two
might be..abls to cooperate, and addressed let
ters to that effect to the President and to
Gen. Mcclellan. 1t was apparant from the
latter's reply that no harmonious CO operation
was TO be expected from him, and Gen. Hal.
leck was accordingly placed in command over
both armies. -. .saI.u .ti
Beftre Gen. Pope took the field, it had
been determined to unite tho two armies ol
Virgins and the Potomac. His mission was
therefore to protect the front of Washington
secure the Valley Of the Shenandoah, and
cover the retreat of Nc Cellsn from the Ponin'
sula. If the enemy. az was feared, should
throw his whole force towards Washington
his advance was to resisted at all hazards, to
give time fer McClelau's on the Rappahan'
mock. Boo
The campaign commenced with a success
ion Of cavaly forays on the enemy's lines, part
of which were successful, but the most impor-
tant Of which-aganst Gordonsviile and the
railroad beyond -enlirely failed, owing, says
Gen. Pope, to Gen. Hatch's disobedeuce OF
orders. The general advance began on the
7th OF August. Gen Bayard was in front Of
Culpepcr Court House, to guard which place
Gen. Pope moved his whole force on the 9th
of August. On the 9th Banks was ordered
forward townrd Cedar Mountain. HE forces
represente at $4,000, did not in reality ex-
ceea 5000, discrepancy not yet explained.
Ills orders were to hold the enemy in check
until the main army could como up. Gen.
Banks, nevertheless, believing himself strong
er than tho enemy. under Jackson, left the
position which he had at first takea up, at
lacked the enemy and drove him some dis
iance, but was 10 turn attacked by hcav ly
superior forces, and rspulsaI with severe loss
es. The action lasted about an hour and q
a oc
Pope came up at dusk with rcinforcsments
drove the enemy back into tho woods with
artillery, and held the position in readiness
for battle next day. Jackson, however, fell
back, tho noxt day was hot, aud there waa no
conflict. On the night of the / lth Jackson
retreatcd across the Rapidan.
On the 4,h Of August Pope's army was re
inforcod by the arrival Of General Reno with
5000 men, and lie thereupon moved forward
toward the Rspidau, holding this advanced
position till the 18th. when he became salts.
fed that the whole force Of the enemy was 10
his front, and his position no longer tenatable.
He determined therefore to withdraw bis
whole army behind the Rappshannock, and
accomplished this retreat 10 good order on the
18th and 10th. Tho enemy followed and
during the 2l,t and 22d eudeavored to cross
the river at various points, but was repeatedly
foilcd. Unable to cross, the rebels, while
keeping heavy force in front Of the position
at Rappahanuock Stanton, began moving their
main body up the river toward Waterloo
Bridge, with the purpose ef turning Gen.
Pope's right flank. The report details with
great minutencss the position and movements
Of Gen. Pope's forces while this attempt was
progressing. Owing to the necessity OF keep
ing up bis communications with Fredercks'
burg, says Gen. Pope, he was unabls to pre-
vent the accomplishment Of tho enemy's plan.
BY the night Of the ?5th, however, he had
abandoned bis purpose to make the lower
fords Of the Rsppohsunock, toward Freder-
icksbufg. and determined TO mass bis forces
on the Warenton turnpike, .ud between
Warrenton and Gainesville, aud to give battle
to the enemy on his right or left "as 10 might
choose" The celebrated raid or CatletIs
Station had already occ ,red on the night Of
August %. Reinforcemen,s were promised
from Washington, but did not arrive, and
Jackson suddenly emerged from Thorough
fare Gap, in the rear OF Gen. Pope's army,
and entirely cut off his communications with
the capital.
On tho morning Of tho 9th, Gen. Pope's
forces, including Henin,zemon aud Porter,
who had r,acfed Warrenton Junction, mum.
bsred $4,000 men, aud with this strength
Gen. Pope undertook to divide the forces Of
Gen. Lee from those Of Gen. jackson. The
three days battles OF tho 9Th, 2stb, and
20;h followed. Hookers division attacked
Ewel on the afternoon of the 9th, aud dc
featel it with loss, but in tho ef)rt nearly ex
hausted its own supply Of ammunition. -
Porter was therefore ordered forward at l
o'clock on tho morning Of tho 2sth, bu: fail.
ed to comply with the order. The right
flank OF the army was, in consequence, left
wholly unprotected, but Jackson, unaware Of
it pushed on by way Of Cenlrevil'e, and Pope
distributed his forces in pursuit, reaching
Manassas Junction with Koarney's division
and Rsno's corps about noon OF tho 2sth
less than an hour after Jackson had retired. -
Hooker, Kearney and Ron, were i'm Mediate.
ly ordered forward, and late 10 the afternoon
Cearney drove the enemy's rear guard from
Centreville and occupied tho river. Mellow
ell aud Siegel marching toward Centrcvillo
encountered Jackson's advance retreating to-
ward thoughfare Gap about 8 in the evening
and severe action followed, each party
maintaining bis ground. A general battle
was expected on the Goth. and Porter was