Records Related to Augusta County Regiments



From: JNO POPE, Maj.-Gen., Cmdg.
July 4, 1862.

Summary:
Operations in the Shenandoah Valley proved difficult for Federal commanders early in the war. In July, 1862, in the wake of Stonewall Jackson's victories over the combined forces of McDowell, Banks, and Fremont, Lincoln reorganized the army. John Pope received command of the Union Army of Virginia, which included troops stationed in the Valley area. In this letter, he informs General McClellan of his plans, including sending troops to establish communications with Staunton, Virginia.


Maj. Gen. GEORGE M. McCLELLAN,
Cmdg. Army of the Potomac, on James River:

Washington, D. C.

July 4, 1862.

GEN.:

As you have doubtless been informed, I was a few days since assigned by the President to the command of the forces and departments lately under the command of Gen.'s Fremont, Banks, and McDowell.

I avail myself of the first moment, after ascertaining the strength, positions, and condition of the force thus assigned me, to communicate with you. I beg you to understand that it is my earnest wish to co-operate in the heartiest and most energetic manner with you, and that there is no service, whatever the hazard or the labor, which I am not ready to perform with this army to carry out that object.

That you may understand precisely what means are at my disposal for such a purpose and what is expected of me I will proceed to give you in detail the information which will enable you to understand precisely my situation and the power I have to aid your operations. Do not hesitate to suggest frankly and freely to me any views and wishes you may entertain in regard to the assistance I can give you. Be assured that your suggestions will be received with all kindness and as far as possible adopted. I am guided and shall be, by an earnest wish to contribute by every possible means within my control to the success of your operations.

You know the history of the late peculiar operations in the Shenandoah Valley, and that Gen. Fremont has retired from his command for reasons unnecessary to set forth. The forces lately under his command and those of Gen. Banks are collected in the neighborhood of Strasburg and Middletown. They are much demoralized and broken down, and unfit for active service for the present. Of some use they can be, but not much just now. They are scattered at small posts, but are now being concentrated. They number about 23,000 men of all arms.The army corps of Gen. McDowell's about 19,000 strong, is by far the best, and in fact the only reliable portion of my command. One division is at Manassas, the other at Fredericksburg.

Gen. Sturgis in command of the forces within and outside of the intrenchments near Washington. They number altogether about 17,000 men, mostly raw recruits and fragments of broken regiments, in no condition for service.

My first object is to concentrate all these forces (except those under Sturgis), as far as practicable, in advance of this place, both to put them in condition for active operations and to have them in hand. In this arrangement the security of the valley of the Shenandoah and of the city of Washington must be held in view. I have therefore broken up the depots on the Ohio River and on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and established my depots and base of operations at Alexandria. I am concentrating the two corps of Fremont (now Sigel's) and Banks near Luray Gap (Sperryville); Banks' about 5 or 6 miles east of that place.

The division of McDowell, now at Manassas, has moved forward to Warrenton and taken post. His cavalry brigade has advanced to Warrenton Junction, with strong cavalry pickets south of the Rappahannock. The division at Fredericksburg pickets the country 20 miles in advance of that place. A good stone turnpike connects Luray with Warrenton. It was my purpose, before the news of your critical situation reached here, to concentrate the two divisions of McDowell at Orange Court-House and the corps of Banks and Sigel at Stanardville; thence to occupy Gordonsville long enough to destroy entirely the Virginia Central road between that place and Hanover Court-House, and to move on Charlottesville, or a point east of that place, with my whole force united; to destroy the railroad between Lynchburg and Charlotesville, and also, by pushing cavalry in various directions toward it, to destroy the railroad from Lynchburg to Richmond; to move down to James River at Columbia, and to pursue the north (left) bank of the river toward Richmond at least as far as Tuckahoe Creek; to take up a strong position behind that creek, and throw bridges over the James River or secure those now existing within the proposed lines, so as to be able to throw my whole force across to the south side whenever it became necessary. Having secured these objects, to aid you in any way in the immediate operations against Richmond.

The occurrences of the last few days have deranged this plan, and I am holding my forces at the points I have designated, so as to be able, by marching rapidly on Gordonsville and Charlottesville, to cut off any force which may penetrate into the valley of the Shenandoah from the direction of Richmond, and at the same time be able to concentrate my whole force with little delay in front of Washington in case of necessity. These positions I shall hold until some well-defined plan of operations and co-operations can be determined on.

It seems to me that it will not be difficult for the enemy at Richmond to detach 50,000 men to march rapidly on Washington if it be uncovered by the movement of the force under my command in any direction. Much of my cavalry I am keeping in the valley of the Shenandoah, and as soon as my forces are established as I have designated, they (the cavalry) will be pushed as far south as Swift Run Gap and Harrisonburg. I have intrenched a brigade of infantry with one battery at Winchester; a somewhat smaller force will be posted in a like manner at Romney. The small posts at Clarksburg, Beverly Buckhannon, &c., are placed under charge of Gen. Kelley, who has some force also on the railroad. The care and protection of the road has been assigned to Gen. Wool, so that I am foot-loose in that region.

I have directed Gen. Cox, who has about 12,000 men in the Kanawha Valley, near Lewisburg, to maneuver so as to get Heth and Humphrey Marshall between himself and Lexington or Lynchburg, and then follow them through to Lexington by the turnpike, and open communication with Staunton or Charlottesville, abandoning entirely his line to Point Pleasant, on the Ohio, and calling in his small posts. Of course this movement will depend upon whether my operations toward Charlottesville and Richmond are carried out.

You position on James River places the whole of the enemy's force around Richmond between yourself and Washington. Were I to move with my command direct on Richmond I must fight the whole force of the enemy before I could join you, and at so great a distance from you as to be beyond any assistance from your army. If my command be embarked and sent to you by James River the enemy would be in Washington before it had half accomplished the journey.

Under these circumstances my position here is difficult and embarrassing. Whilst I am very anxious to render you all the assistance in my power, the imperative necessity of insuring the safety of the capital must control my operations.

You now know my position and resources. A movable force of 43,000 men (19,000 in good order), posted as I have detailed to you, are all I have, and I am made responsible for the security of this city.

I trust you will communicate you wishes to me, and give me the benefit of any views and suggestions which will enable me to aid you. I need not repeat that I stand prepared to do all in my power for that purpose.

I am, general, respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO POPE,
Maj.-Gen., Cmdg.


Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 11, Serial No. 14, Pages 295-297, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.


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