The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-02-18
General Pope in Command OF the
Army OF Virginia.

From the Century War Series we
quote the following by General Pope.
prefacing his account of Second Bull
Run. in the January Ceni,rg: Early
in June, 1862. was in command Of the
army corps known as the Army OF the
Mississippi which formed the left wing
of the army engaged in operations
against COrinth. Miss. commanded by
General Halleck. A few DAYS after Co
rinth was evacuated went TO St. Louis
on short leave of absence from nv
command. and while there | received a
telegram from Mr.. Stanton. secretary of
war, requesting me to come 10 Wash
ington Immediately. l at once com
mnnicated the fact TO General HalIcck
by telegraph. and received a reply from
him strongly objecting 10 my leaving
the army under his command. | quite
concnrred with him both as 10 his OBJ
Jectlons TO my going to Washington for
public reasons and as To the madyisa-
bility Of such step on personal consid-
erations. | was obliged. however. 10
go. and | went accordingly but with
great reluctance and against the urgent
protest OF my friends in st. Louis. and
subsequently OF many friends in the
army of the we>I
when | reached Washington. tht.
president was absent at West Point. but
| reported III person Ia Secretary Stan
ton. had never seen him before. and
his peculiar appearance and manners
made vivid impression on me. He
WAS short and stout His long beard.
which hung over his breast was slightly
lln9ed with gray even At that timc and
he had the appearance of i man who
had lost much sleep and was tired both
in body in mind. Certainly. with his
large eyeglasses and rather diShevelcd
appearance. his presence WAS mol i'm
posing. Although he WAS very kind and
civil 10 me. his manner was abrupt and
his speech short and rather dictatOrial
lie entered al once Gn the business in
hand, seemingly without the least idea
That any one should object To. or b.. r,.-
luctant Ia agree To. his views and p,Ir-
poses. He was surprised. and it seemed
To me not well pleased, that 1 did not
assent to his plans with et1Ilsiun: but
went on 10 unfold them in the seeming
certainty that they must be submitted To-
He informed NE that the purpose was
10 unite the armies undcl. Mcdowell.
Fremont and Banks, all three OF whom
were my seniors in rank, and Ia place
me in general command.
1T was natural not only thai the
commanders of the three corps of the
army should be dissatisfied with an or
ganization in which they We're subordi-
mated TO their junior in rank. but al
most equally SO that the subordinate
officers and the enlisted men Of those
corps should have been ill pleased at
the seeming affrOnt to their own officers.
involved in calling an officer strange TO
them and to the country in which they
We're engaged, 10 SuperSede well-known
and trusted officers who had been with
them from the beginning. and whose
reputation was so closely identified with
their own.
How far this feeling prevailed among
them, and how it influenced their act
ions, if il did so at all, / am not able to
tell; but it is only proper for me 10 say
(and it is pleasure as well as duty to
say iD that Generals Mcdowell and
Banks never exhibited to me the slight
est feeling on the subject either in their
conversation or acts. Indeed, think it
would be hard TO lind officers more faith
full to their duty or more deeply interest
ed in the success of the army. To Cen
eral Mcdowell especially is due my graf
itude for his zeal and fidelity in what
was and ought TO have been considered
common cause, the success of the Union
army.