The National tribune., 1907-11-28
Pope's Review of. Himself.

Pope concludes the narrative of his
operations with the following review,
which every student of history will
probably agree is entirely just. and thai
Pope deserves all that he says in his
own favor: ~
II thus conclude for the present this
account OF the second battle of Bull
Run. The battle treated Of, as well as
the campaign which preceded it, have
been, and no doubt still are, greatly mis-
understood. Probably they will remain
during this generation a matter of con-
troversy, into which personal feeling
and prejudice so largely enter that dis
passionate judgment cannot now be
looked for.
Il submit this article to the public
judgment with all confidence that it will
be fairly considered, and as just a judg-
ment passed upon it as is possible al
this time. 1 well understood as does
every military man, how difficult and
how thanklesS was the task imposed on
me, and l do not hesitate to say that
would gladly have avoided it if l could
have done so consistent with my duty.
ITO confront with a small army great
iy superior forces, to fight battles with
out the hope of victory, but only to
gain time by delaying the forward
movement of the enemy, is a duty the
most hazardous and the most difficult
that can be imposed upon any General
or any army. While such operations
require the highest courage and endur-
ance on the part of the troops, they
are unlikely to be understood or ap-
preciated, and the results, however Sue
cessful in view of the object aimed at
have little in them to attract public
commendauon or applause.
AT no time could l have hoped to
fight successful battle with the su-
perior forces of the enemy which con-
frOnted me, and which We're able at
any time to outflank and bear my small
army to the dust. 1t was only by con-
slant movement, incessant watchfulness
and hazardous skirmishes and battles
that the forces under my command We're
saved from destruction, and that tn.
enemy was embarrassed and delayed in
his advance until the army of Gen. Me
Clellan was at length assembled for the
defense of Washington.
4 did hope that in the course or
these operations the enemy might com
nit some imprudence or leave some
opening of which / could take such ad-
vantage as to gain at least a partia |
success. This opportunity was present
ed by the advance of Jackson on Manas- !
sas Junction, but altho the best dis
positions possible in my view were
made. the object was frustrated BY
causes which could not have been fore
seen and which perhaps are not yet |
completely known to the country
A Non-Pnrtisan View.
John c. Ropes. whose able criticisms
of military operations have received the
widest commendation by military stu
dents in Europe and America, and who
cannot be accused of any leaning to
either side in the McClellan-Pope con-
troyersy. sums up Pope's operations
thus:
Gen. Pope's actual campaign differed
from the one which we have sketched |
out in two respects.
First. He did not fall back on the
25th and 26th to cover his communica-
tions. If he had he would have pre-
vented the loss of his stores, and would |
probably have been able to concentrate
his whole army upon Jackson long be-
fore Longstreet Joined him.
Second. He Joined battle with the
entire army of Lee before having re-
ceived all the reinforcements which he
expected from the Army of the Poto-
mae.
Had Gen. Pope not made these mis-
takes his campaign would in all prob
ability have been successful attempt
TO delay the advance of Lees army un-
til the Army of the Potomac had been
brought up from the Peninsula, Illus
trated by severe action between his
army and Jackson'S isolated corps, in
which the latter would have been worst
ed.
"As it was, there was, as we have
before pointed out, nothing to be very
much cast down about. The battles
had all been fought creditably, so far
as the actual fighting went The spirit
of his army, its readiness, pluck and
endurance had been admirable. The
last battle was certainly defeat but
Vaa /
had suffered greatly, as was shown att
South Mountain and Antiatana L,