GENERAL POPE'S REPORT. 417 performed his duties in all situations is not too much to say, that throughout with zeal and fidelity. Generals Seymour and Meade, of that division, in like manner performed their duties with ability and gallantry, and in all fidelity to the Government and to the army. the operations, from the first to the last day of the campaign, scarce a day passed that these officers did not render service which entitles them to the gratitude of the Government. "The detachment of the signal corps with the various army corps rendered most important service, and I cannot speak too highly of the value of that corps, and of the important information which from time to time they communicated to me. They were many times in positions of extreme peril, but were always prompt and ready to encounter any danger in the discharge of their duties. "General Sturgis arrived at Warrenton Junction on the 26th of August with Piatt's brigade of his division, the only portion of that division which ever joined me. This brigade was temporarily attached to the army corps of FitzJohn Porter, and, although misled in consequence of orders to follow Griffin's brigade of that corps, which for some unexplained reason strayed from its corps to Centreville on the 30th of August, was led forward from that place by Generals Sturgis and Piatt, as soon as it was discovered that Griffin did not intend to go forward to the field of bat-chester. He was selected for that positle, and reported to me late in the afternoon of that day. 'Shortly afterward the brigade was thrown forward into action on our left, where they acquitted themselves with great courage. Brigadier-General Sturgis, as well as General Piatt, deserve especial mention for the soldierly feeling which induced them, after being thus misled, and with the bad example of Griffin before their eyes, to push forward with such zeal and alacrity to the field of battle, and for the valuable services which they rendered in the action of the 30th of August. "Generals Bayard and Buford commanded all of the cavalry belonging to the Army of Virginia. Their duties were peculiarly arduous and hazardous, and it Brigadier-General White, with one brigade, was in the beginning of the campaign placed in command at Win tion because I felt entire confidence in his courage and ability, and during the whole of his service there, he performed his duty with the utmost efficiency, and relieved me entirely from any apprehension concerning that region of country. particular, I am indebted for services marked throughout by skill, courage, and unerring judgment, and worthy of the solid reputation as a soldier he has acquired by many previous years of faithful and distinguished military service. I desire also especially to mention Brigadier-General Elliott, Surgeon McParlin, Colonel Beckwith, Lieutenant-Colonel T. C. H. Smith, Captain Piper, chief of artillery, Captain Merriett, of the Engineers, and Lieutenant Shunk, chief of ordnance. "I must also honorably mention the following members of my staff, the conduct of all of whom met my hearty approval, and merits high commendation: Colonels McComb, Clary, Marshall, Butler, Morgan, and Welch; Majors Selfridge and Meline; Captains Archer, Douglas, Pope, Haight, Atcheson, De Kay, Piatt, Paine, and Strother. Mr. McCain, confidential telegraph operator at my headquarters, accompanied me throughout the campaign, and was at all times eminently useful and efficient. My personal escort, consisting of two small companies of the First Ohio Cavalry, numbering about 100 men, performed more arduous service, probably, than any other troops in the campaign. As orderlies, messengers, and guards, they passed many sleepless nights and weary days. Their conduct in all the operations, as in every battle, was marked by uncommon activity and gallantry." If the object of General Pope was to advance upon Richmond, he had signally failed; if, however, his purpose was only to make a diversion by which McClellan might be enabled to withdraw his army from the Peninsula in safety, and join his forces to those on the Potomac, he may, as this was accomplished, be credited with a success. This success, however, was acquired at a fearful sacrifice. The enemy, when they were satisfied that it was the design of McClellan to withdraw his army from the Peninsula, gave no further heed to his movements, but directed all their efforts toward Pope, whom they hoped to flank and overwhelm before he could form a junction with the troops concentrating on the Potomac. They had so far succeeded as to get into the rear of Pope, and temporarily cut off his communications with Washington. Their full purpose, however, was foiled by the resolute courage of the Union troops, who fought their way back to the intrenchments which surround the capital. The army of Pope thus found a refuge, but not until it had suffered much in material and prestige. The people, greatly chagrined by the results of a campaign which had brought an enemy close to the gates of the capital, vented their dissatisfaction in angry complaints against the leaders. Generals Pope and McDowell became the chief objects of popular censure, and both were compelled to pay the penalty of military failure. The former Sep. was, "at his own request," relieved 7. from the command of the Army of Virginia, and assigned to the command of the Department of the North-west, where the Indians had arisen in in CONSEQUENCES OF POPE'S CAMPAIGN. "I have to ask," wrote the General, "that the inquiry be without limitation, and be upon any point and every subject which may in any way be supposed to have led to this belief; that it may be directed to my whole conduct as a general officer, either under another, or while in a separate command, whether on matters of administration or command; to my correspondence with any of the enemy's commanders, or with any one within the enemy's lines; to my conduct and the policy pursued by me toward the inhabitants of the country occupied by our troops, with reference to themselves or their property; and further, to any imputations of indirect treachery or disloyalty toward the nation or any individual having, like myself, an important trust-whether I have or have not been faithful as a subordinate to those placed over me, giving them heartily, and to the best of my capacity, all the support in my power; and whe *The request of McDowell was finally complied with, and a court of inquiry having been established, he was, after a long investigation, relieved of all censure. 419 ther I have or have not failed, through unworthy, personal motives, to go to the aid of or send reinforcements to my brother commanders. "That this subject of my alleged treachery or disloyalty may be fully inquired into, I beg that all officers, soldiers, or civilians who know, or think they know, of any act of mine liable to the charge in question, be allowed and invited to make it known to the court." The Government, prostrated for a moment by the defeat of its plans and the presence of an army disordered by retreat and dejected by failure, was soon aroused to action by the approach of a victorious enemy. The various forces within call were immediately ordered to concentrate at or about Washington. Fredericksburg was evacuated by General Burnside and his troops were moved to strengthen the army of the cap- Aug. ital. Two days subsequently Gen- 31. eral White abandoned Winchester, and after resting awhile at Martinsburg, finally joined his force to that of Colonel Miles in occupation of Harper's Ferry. Subsequently Acquia Creek was also evacuated. The new recruits were hurried from the North to Annapolis, Baltimore, and Washington, while fleets of gun-boats were gathered from various stations and posted in the Chesapeake and Potomac, to aid in the defence of those cities. The President seemed for awhile perplexed in the choice of a military leader. While, however, doubting and irresolute, there was, both among officers and soldiers, such a loudly expressed desire to be led by their favorite commander, that Mr. Lincoln, who had temporarily withdrawn McClellan from active command in the field, no longer hesitated to place him at the head of the Army of the Potomac. The enemy, in the mean time, encouraged by the success of their campaign in Eastern Virginia, which had relieved their anxieties for the safety of Richmond and opened the way, as they fondly hoped, to Washington, Baltimore, and perhaps to Philadelphia, ventured upon a scheme of invasion which they had long contemplated, and now believed could be accomplished. "LEE'S HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, NEAR FREDERICKTOWN, September 8, 1862. "TO THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND: "It is right that you should know the purpose that has brought the army under my command within the limits of your State, so far as that purpose concerns yourselves. "The people of the Confederate States have long watched with the deepest sympathy the wrongs and outrages that have been inflicted upon the citizens of a commonwealth allied to the States of the South by the strongest so signal defeat of the combined forces of the enemy in the "2. Resolved-That Congress has heard with profound satisfaction of the triumphant crossing of the Potomac by our victorious army, and, assured of the wisdom of that The enemy's forces, which had been two great battles of Manassas. concentrated under General Lee, the commander-in-chief, in the course of the campaign against Pope, moved, after masterly movement, could repose with entire confidence 5. his retreat within the intrenchments of Sep. Washington, to Leesburg, whence they crossed the Potomac into Maryland* by the various fords in that neighborhood, of which they had easy command from the position of their army. Having thus thrown a large force across the river, without serious opposition, they moved into the interior of Sep. Maryland and occupied the city of 6. Frederick, the capital of that State. General Lee soon after issued the following proclamation : That this invasion of Maryland by the army of the enemy was in accordance with the popular wish of the Southern Confederacy is manifest from the following resolutions, which were passed on the 12th of Sept. in the House of Representatives, by the large majority of 56 to 13: Resolved-That the thanks of Congress and the country are eminently due and are hereby tendered to General Robert E. Lee, and the officers and men under his command, for their late brilliant victory, culminating in the on the distinguished skill of the commanding general and the valor of his troops, under favor of the Great Ruler of nations, to achieve new triumphs, to relieve oppressed Maryland, and advance our standard into the territory of the enemy. |