The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-09-22

mics sooner than transportation by the
river and bay, and marches to Fortress
Monroe and Yorktown lie did not &C.
cept this idea, but insisted on the speedi-
est possible embarkation and march Of
the troops, with view to uniting them
with the army of Virginia, before the re.
bells could force Pope back on Washing.
ton with their massed forced SO the
movement went on. Some Of the troops
we're embarked on transports and brought
to Alexandria some were marched to
Newport News, and some to Yorktown. Y
and there embarked and brought to Aquia
and Alexandria.
"While these things were taking place.
Pope was vigorously disputing the ad.
vance Of the enemy. When their whols
force was concentrated before him, south
Of the Rnpidian,n the hope OF overwhelm.
ing his army by superior numbers before
junction with McClellan's army could
be effected, he suddenly fell back beyond
the Rappahannock without loss or wilhou.
disorder. The enemy followed, and pro.
trac.ed struggle took place on the Rap.
pahannock. Pope disputed their crossing
for many miles up AID down that river
from the station of the Orange and Alez-
andria railroad, but he was not in suiii
cient force to prevent them passing up
the country, and by long dctour coming
through the mountains BY this move
mcnl the enemy succeeded in reaching
Manassas Junction, in Popcs rear. He
,knt
strongly occupied by troops from McClel-
lan's army, but the fact was otherwise.
The occupying force was inconsiderable,
and was easily scattered. Meanwhile
Pope having defended the passage of the
Rappahannock until the enemy had tha.
reached his rear, suddenly turned round
and by rapid marching attacked the eue-
my at Mana ssas, followed him to the
plains OF Bull Run, and by a judciouz
disp osltion Of his forces, engaged him
there at such advantage, before the rest
of the rebel army could come up that
victory seemed almost certain
During these last days. however. Me.
Clcllan had arrived at Alexandria. and
manifested great aversion to sending
troops to Gon Pope. Repeated order,
from Gen. ll,ilock produced ,ow and IL.
adcq s;c results ia movements Of troops
The ic,iios manifested by Mcclellan ex.
tended ii-' to come Of the officers OF his
arus c.l', cial,y to Porter who had been
sei' lo;w.ld hy the way Of Aqua and
Falmon'h end already made part OF
Pope, command This general manifest.
ed no disposition TO act cordially under
his new commander but on the contrary
By delays and ill.tcmpcred action. SO mis-
managed his force that the victory which
seemed almost in the grasp OF the Union
army, was snatched from it The result
Of the battle Of Friday, when Pope's com
bined attack on the advanced rebel army
was made, was indeed a success , and had
he been supported as he should have been
it World have been decisive. The ad-
vanced army would have been captured
or so thoroughly routed, that recovery
even with the heavy rcinforcemcn!s near
at hand, would hardly have been possible
As it was the enemy fell back only 10 be
reinforced by the main body. ami III,
next day renewed the fight Again Pope
engaged tLcr with his overworked and
diminished forces, but the divisions Ct
Franklin aud Sumner, eagerly expect
ed had been SO long withheld fTop.
advance, tha. they could not come up
the enemy proved too strong, and we lcs,
the day. Pope had sent an earnest de-
mand for supplies to Mcclellan, who an,
swered that the wagons would be ondci,
and if Pope would send cavalry es-
cort would be sent forward Pope had
10 cavalry escort 10 SEND, unu ~ 7vvuIr
supplies US we'll as to gain position with
drew his army across Bull Run to Center
vile, the night following the battle. At
Centervil!e he was joined by Srmpe, and
} Frannlin but the result Of the battle and
the ill.feelings generated by di-appoint-
ment had 50 demoralizej the army, lh-t
, it did not seem safe to risk another cH-
, gagement and the whole army was wiki.
. drawn within the iorttication.
, Thus the union Of the two armies wa.
consummated, VIII the true history Of
, it ever be known? 1t seems improbable
for the President allowing the whole
blame to fall on Pope and On Mcdowell
who, though superior in rank to Pope.
, had chcerfuly acted under him-allowed
, Halleck to relieve them both from their
. respective commands, aud he himself gave
, the command OF the iortfications ana lh.
troops for the defense of Washington 10
. Mcclellan 1t was against my protest
; and tina, Of the secretary ofwar.