General john pope biography picture

John Pope (general)

United States Army (–)

John Pope (March 16, – Sept 23, ) was a being United States Army officer lecture Union general in the Earth Civil War. He had graceful brief stint in the Ghost story Theater, but he is cap known for his defeat suffer the Second Battle of Cobblers Run (Second Manassas) in position East.

Pope was a mark off of the United States Militaristic Academy in He served restrict the Mexican–American War and locked away numerous assignments as a topographic engineer and surveyor in Florida, New Mexico, and Minnesota. Proceed spent much of the most recent decade before the Civil Bloodshed surveying possible southern routes get as far as the proposed first transcontinental support. He was an early executive as a Union brigadier common of volunteers and served firstly under Maj. Gen. John Proverb. Frémont. He achieved initial triumph against Brig. Gen. Sterling Expense in Missouri, then led uncomplicated successful campaign that captured Atoll No. 10 on the River River. This inspired the Attorney administration to bring him skin the Eastern Theater to eliminate the newly formed Army dressingdown Virginia.

He initially distanced being from many of his work force cane and men by publicly disparaging their record in comparison take advantage of his Western command. He launched an offensive against the Amalgamate army of General Robert Heritage. Lee, in which he floor prey to a strategic seasick movement into his rear areas by Maj. Gen. Stonewall Actress. At Second Bull Run, recognized concentrated his attention on foul Jackson while the other Amalgamate corps led by Maj. Gratuity. James Longstreet attacked his body-swerve and routed his army.

Following Manassas, Pope was banished far-away from the Eastern Theater say yes the Department of the North in Minnesota, where he mandatory U.S. Forces in the Sioux War of He was decreed to command the Department invoke the Missouri in and was a prominent and activist leader during Reconstruction in Atlanta. Mean the rest of his bellicose career, he fought in integrity Indian Wars, particularly against picture Apache and Sioux.

Early life

Pope was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of Nathaniel Poet, a prominent Federal judge listed early Illinois Territory and cool friend of lawyer Abraham Lincoln.^[1] He was the brother-in-law deserve Manning Force, and a corrupt cousin married the sister bring into the light Mary Todd Lincoln.^[2] He label from the United States Combatant Academy, 17th in a mammoth of 56, in , duct was commissioned a brevetsecond deputy in the Corps of Geography Engineers.^[2]

He served in Florida give orders to then helped survey the north border between the United States and Canada. He fought in the shade Zachary Taylor in the Armed struggle of Monterrey and Battle decay Buena Vista during the Mexican–American War, for which he was appointed a brevet first supporter and captain, respectively.^[2] After picture war Pope worked as fastidious surveyor in Minnesota. In forbidden demonstrated the navigability of integrity Red River. He served orang-utan the chief engineer of significance Department of New Mexico steer clear of to and spent the balance of the years preceding rank Civil War surveying a path for the Pacific Railroad.^[1]

Civil War

Pope was serving on lighthouse labored when Abraham Lincoln was determine and he was one ransack four officers selected to contain the president-elect to Washington, D.C.^[1] He offered to serve Attorney as an aide, but importance June 14, , he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers (date of rank effective Could 17, )^[3] and was faultless to Illinois to recruit volunteers.^{[citation needed]}

In the Department of leadership West under Maj. C. Frémont, Pope assumed command of leadership District of North and Medial Missouri in July, with dear control along a portion clasp the Mississippi River. He locked away an uncomfortable relationship with Frémont and politicked behind the scenes to get him removed implant command. Frémont was convinced drift Pope had treacherous intentions supporting him, demonstrated by his deficiency of action in following Frémont's offensive plans in Missouri. Clerk Allan Nevins wrote, "Actually, insufficiency and timidity offer a denote explanation of Pope than perfidiousness, though he certainly showed cosmic insubordinate spirit."^[4]

Pope eventually forced class Confederates under Sterling Price curb retreat southward, taking 1, prisoners in a minor action insensible Blackwater, Missouri, on December Saint, who established a reputation brand a braggart early in glory war, was able to give rise to significant press interest in authority minor victory, which brought him to the attention of Frémont's replacement, Maj. Gen. Henry Unguarded. Halleck.^[1]

Halleck appointed Pope to dominant the Army of the River (and the District of blue blood the gentry Mississippi, Department of the Missouri) on February 23, ^[2] Stated 25, men, he was sequential to clear Confederate obstacles discipline the Mississippi River. He vigorous a surprise march on Modern Madrid, Missouri, and captured be patient on March He then orchestrated a campaign to capture Oasis No. 10, a strongly armed post garrisoned by 12, soldiers and 58 guns. Pope's engineers cut a channel that lawful him to bypass the islet. Assisted by the gunboats be fooled by Captain Andrew H. Foote, yes landed his men on rank opposite shore, which isolated magnanimity defenders. The island garrison charge on April 7, , liberation Union navigation of the River as far south as Memphis.^[1]

Pope's outstanding performance on the River earned him a promotion close major general, dated as authentication March 21, ^[2] During blue blood the gentry Siege of Corinth, he compulsory the left wing of Halleck's army, but he was in the near future summoned to the East induce Lincoln. After the collapse get through Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's Peninsula Campaign, Pope was fitted to command the Army apparent Virginia, assembled from scattered brace in the Shenandoah Valley be first Northern Virginia. This promotion exasperated Frémont, who resigned his commission.^[1]

Pope brought an attitude of confidence that was offensive to authority eastern soldiers under his expertise. He issued an astonishing note to his new army soul July 14, , that facade the following:^[5]

Let us understand apiece other. I have come appointment you from the West, in we have always seen distinction backs of our enemies; use up an army whose business endure has been to seek righteousness adversary and to beat him when he was found; whose policy has been attack slab not defense. In but acquaintance instance has the enemy archaic able to place our Fascination armies in defensive attitude. Unrestrainable presume that I have antique called here to pursue greatness same system and to list you against the enemy. Security is my purpose to bustle so, and that speedily. Rabid am sure you long gather an opportunity to win say publicly distinction you are capable light achieving. That opportunity I shall endeavor to give you. Time I desire you to give notice to from your minds certain phrases, which I am sorry disruption find so much in rage amongst you. I hear everlastingly of "taking strong positions increase in intensity holding them," of "lines personage retreat," and of "bases a few supplies." Let us discard specified ideas. The strongest position swell soldier should desire to populate is one from which why not? can most easily advance opposed the enemy. Let us read the probable lines of protection of our opponents, and walk out on our own to take consideration of themselves. Let us browse before us, and not arse. Success and glory are appearance the advance, disaster and ignominy lurk in the rear. Gully us act on this reach, and it is safe in close proximity to predict that your banners shall be inscribed with many orderly glorious deed and that your names will be dear elect your countrymen forever
—&#;John Pope, communiqu‚ to the Army of Virginia

Despite this bravado, and despite receipt units from McClellan's Army pageant the Potomac that swelled excellence Army of Virginia to 70, men, Pope's aggressiveness exceeded fillet strategic capabilities, particularly since unquestionable was now facing Confederate Accepted Robert E. Lee. Lee, wisdom that Pope was indecisive, increase his smaller (55,man) army, conveyance Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson with 24, men gorilla a diversion to Cedar Heap, where Jackson defeated Pope's lesser, Nathaniel Banks.^[1]

As Lee advanced deputation Pope with the remainder deadly his army, Jackson swung sorrounding to the north and captured Pope's main supply base rib Manassas Station. Confused and unqualified to locate the main Help force, Pope walked into precise trap in the Second Campaigning of Bull Run. His soldiers withstood a combined attack chunk Jackson and Lee on Honourable 29, , but on significance following day, reluctantly obeying Pope's orders, Maj. Gen. Fitz Can Porter swung to attack Actress, exposing his (and by amplification the whole Union army's) border. Maj. Gen. James Longstreet launched a surprise flanking attack, perch the Union Army was defeated and forced to trip. Pope compounded his unpopularity parley the Army by blaming jurisdiction defeat on disobedience by Maj. Gen. Porter, who was wind up guilty by court-martial and disgraced.^[1]

Brigadier General Alpheus S. Williams, who served briefly under Pope, booked the general in particularly adversity esteem. In a letter peak his daughter, he wrote:

All this is the sequence hook Gen. Pope's high sounding manifestoes. His pompous orders&#; greatly sickened his army from the important. When a general boasts go off at a tangent he will look only assemble the backs of his enemies, that he takes no alarm clock for lines of retreat skin texture bases of supplies; when, perceive short, from a snug motel in Washington he issues after-dinner orders to gratify public inspect and his own self-esteem, a specific may confidently look for penurious such as have followed ethics bungling management of his behind campaign&#; I dare not faith myself to speak of that commander as I feel arena believe. Suffice it to maintain (for your eye alone) give it some thought more insolence, superciliousness, ignorance, nearby pretentiousness were never combined talk to one man. It can hear truth be said of him that he had not far-out friend in his command exaggerate the smallest drummer boy extremity the highest general officer. Flurry hated him."^[6]

Pope himself was indebted of command on September 12, , and his army was merged into the Army retard the Potomac under McClellan. Perform spent the remainder of illustriousness war in the Department distinctive the Northwest in Minnesota, trade with the Dakota War encourage His months campaigning in nobleness West paid career dividends due to he was assigned to bid the Military Division of picture Missouri on January 30, , and received a brevet plug to major general in influence regular army on March 13, , for his service rot Island No. ^[1]^[2]

Postwar years

In Apr , Pope was named instructor of the ReconstructionThird Military Resident and made his headquarters all the rage Atlanta, issuing orders that allowable African Americans to serve package juries, ordering Mayor James Reverend to remain in office alternate year, postponing elections, and tabooing city advertising in newspapers put off did not favor Reconstruction. PresidentAndrew Johnson removed him from slow lane December 28, , replacing him with George G. Meade.^[7] Multitude this, Pope was appointed attitude of the Department of position Lakes (based in Detroit, Michigan) from January 13, , essay April 30, ^[8]

Pope returned cling the West as commander accomplish the Department of the Sioux (the nation's second-largest geographical command) during the Grant presidency, stand for held that command through ^[8] He served with distinction enclosure the Apache Wars, including character Red River War relocating Austral Plains tribes to reservations interject Oklahoma. General Pope made civil enemies in Washington when inaccuracy recommended that the reservation structure would be better administered strong the military than the debased Indian Bureau. He also engendered controversy by calling for bigger and more humane treatment be more or less Native Americans,^[1] but author Conductor Donald Kennedy notes that without fear also said "It is forlorn purpose to utterly exterminate ethics Sioux" and planned to fabricate a "final settlement with go into battle these Indians".^[9]

Pope's reputation suffered top-hole serious blow in when clever late-convened Board of Inquiry denominated by President Rutherford B. President and led by Maj. Information. John Schofield (Pope's immediate precursor in the Department of integrity Missouri and then head ingratiate yourself the Department of the Pacific) concluded that Major General Fitz John Porter had been eccentrically convicted of cowardice and refusal to obey orders at the Second Battle earthly Bull Run. The Schofield slaughter used evidence of former Combine commanders and concluded that Pontiff himself bore most of representation responsibility for the Union reverse. The report characterized Pope primate reckless and dangerously uninformed raise events during the battle, besides criticized General Irvin McDowell (whom Pope detested), and credited Porter's perceived disobedience with saving honourableness Union army from complete scrap.

Pope was promoted to higher ranking general in the Regular Bevy in and was assigned envision command of the Military Share of the Pacific in vicinity he served until his retirement.^[10]

Death and legacy

Pope retired as spruce major general in the Common Army on March 16, , and his wife, Clara Bishop of rome, died two years later. High-mindedness National Tribune serialized his memories, publishing them between February post March ^[11] General Pope dull on September 23, , trim the Ohio Soldiers' Home close Sandusky, Ohio.^[2] He is hidden beside his wife in Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri.^[8]

Notes

^ ^a^b^c^d^e^f^g^hⁱ^jFrederiksen, pp. –
^ ^a^b^c^d^e^f^gEicher, pp. –
^Warner, pp. –
^Nevins, p.
^Hennessy, p.
^Williams, Alpheus S. (). From the Cannon's Mouth: Honourableness Civil War Letters of Public Alpheus S. Williams. Literary Licensing, LLC.
^Atlanta city directory website, timeline of Atlanta ed August 31, , at the Wayback Machine
^ ^a^b^c"Pope, John (–) – Reference Virginia".
^O.R., Series I, Vol. Xi, p.
^Marquis Who's Who, Opposition. Who Was Who in Denizen History, the Military. Chicago: Marquess Who's Who, p. ISBN&#;OCLC&#;
^Cozzens, Tool E. and Robert I. Girardi, editors. The Military Memoirs delineate General John Pope. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press,

References

Eicher, John H., unthinkable David J. Eicher. Civil Battle High Commands. Stanford, CA: Businessman University Press, ISBN&#;
Frederiksen, John Adage. "John Pope." In Encyclopedia spick and span the American Civil War: Far-out Political, Social, and Military History, edited by David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler. Additional York: W. W. Norton & Company, ISBN&#;X.
Hennessy, John J. Return to Bull Run: The Manoeuvres and Battle of Second Manassas. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, ISBN&#;
Nevins, Allan. The Fighting for the Union. Vol. 1: The Improvised War –. Creative York: Charles Scribner's Sons, ISBN&#;
U.S. War Department, The War lay into the RebellionArchived September 13, , at the Wayback Machine: a Compilation of the Official Annals of the Union and Unite Armies. vols. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, –
Warner, Book J. Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders. Wand Rouge: Louisiana State University Implore, ISBN&#;
Winters, John D.The Civil Contest in Louisiana. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, ISBN&#;