Background
He was born on March 16, 1822 in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, the son of Nathaniel Pope and Lucretia (Backus) Pope.
(Union general John Pope was among the most controversial ...)
Union general John Pope was among the most controversial and misunderstood figures to hold major command during the Civil War. Before being called east in June 1862 to lead the Army of Virginia against General Robert E. Lee, he compiled an enviable record in Missouri and as commander of the Army of the Mississippi. After his ignominious defeat at the Second Battle of Bull Run, he was sent to the frontier. Over the next twenty-four years Pope held important department commands on the western plains and was recognized as one of the army's leading authorities on Indian affairs, but he never again commanded troops in battle. In 1886, Pope was engaged by the National Tribune, a weekly newspaper published in Washington, D.C., to write a series of articles on his wartime experiences. Over the next five years, in twenty-nine installments, he wrote about the war as he had lived it. Collected here for the first time, Pope's "war reminiscences" join a select roster of memoirs written by Civil War army commanders. Pope presents a detailed review of the campaigns in which he participated and offers vivid character sketches of such illustrious figures as Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Clearly written and balanced in tone, his memoirs are a dramatic and important addition to the literature on the Civil War. Originally published in 1998. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.
https://www.amazon.com/Military-Memoirs-General-Civil-America/dp/0807865249?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0807865249
He was born on March 16, 1822 in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, the son of Nathaniel Pope and Lucretia (Backus) Pope.
He was appointed a cadet at the Military Academy in 1838, and graduated in 1842, No. 17 in his class.
Assigned as brevet second lieutenant to the topographical engineers, he was engaged in survey work for the next four years, first in Florida and later on the northeastern boundary line. Promoted second lieutenant May 9, 1846, he was ordered to General Taylor's army in Texas, and served throughout the latter's Mexican campaign. He received the brevet rank of first lieutenant, September 23, 1846, for his services at Monterey, and of captain, February 23, 1847, for Buena Vista.
After the war he came north for a short time, on survey duty in Minnesota. Returning to the Southwest in 1851, he served at headquarters of the Department of New Mexico as chief topographical engineer until 1853; then for six years he was in the field, surveying a route for a Pacific railway, and experimenting with artesian wells as a water supply for the Llano Estacado. From 1859 until the opening of the Civil War he was again in the North, on lighthouse duty. He became first lieutenant March 3, 1853, and captain July 1, 1856. From April 15 to July 29, 1861, he was mustering officer at Chicago. Then, appointed brigadier-general of volunteers, with rank from May 17, he was ordered to General Frémont's force in Missouri.
In March and April 1862, he commanded the Army of the Mississippi in Halleck's operations for the opening of that river. While Grant moved up the Tennessee River to break up the Confederate field force, Pope moved directly against the defenses of the Mississippi at New Madrid, Missouri, and at Island No. 10. A flotilla of gunboats under Commodore Andrew H. Foote cooperated with him. First taking New Madrid by siege, he cut a canal which enabled him to bring transport boats down to that point, avoiding the batteries at Island No. 10. The gunboats ran the batteries, and rejoined him. Under the protection of the gunboats, and of his own shore batteries, he brought his troops across to the east bank, cutting the communications of the defenses of Island No. 10 and forcing their surrender. This opened the river nearly down to Memphis. During these operations he was made major-general of volunteers (March 21, 1862).
He prepared to continue his advance down the river, but in April his army was recalled to join Grant's and Buell's forces (the Armies of the Tennessee and of the Ohio) on the Tennessee River for an advance upon Corinth, under Halleck's personal command. Throughout the month of May his army formed Halleck's left wing in the advance to and siege of Corinth, and in the subsequent pursuit. The reputation which he won in this theatre of operations caused his selection for higher independent command.
Under orders issued June 26, he organized and concentrated all the separate forces in the region of the Rappahannock and the Shenandoah into the Army of Virginia, which was expected to protect Washington, and to relieve the pressure upon McClellan in the Peninsula. During this concentration, on July 14, he was appointed brigadier-general in the regular service, continuing to serve, however, under his commission as major-general of volunteers. In the middle of July, McClellan's Peninsular Campaign was regarded as having definitely failed. His troops were withdrawn to the vicinity of Washington, and transferred as they arrived to Pope's Army of Virginia.
The Confederate army, relieved from anxiety for Richmond, moved toward Pope, whose operations, originally conceived as secondary, now became of primary importance. Pope showed little appreciation of the delicate situation, and, instead of handling his command tactfully and turning this loyalty to himself, issued orders contrasting the eastern troops unfavorably with the western armies that he had just left. The remainder of Lee's army now arrived, and Pope withdrew behind the Rappahannock. Lee now began a wide turning movement, sending Jackson's corps around Pope's right, through Thoroughfare Gap, and following with Longstreet a day later. Pope somewhat tardily appreciated this separation of the Confederate army, and attempted to take advantage of it by concentrating against Jackson. But his movements were groping and ineffective, and Longstreet was nearer than he had supposed, so that the Confederate corps effected their junction in time. In the ensuing Second Battle of Manassas (August 27-30) Pope was decisively defeated, and fell back to the defenses of Washington.
On September 5 he was relieved of his command, and the troops were reassigned to McClellan's Army of the Potomac. Pope insisted that his failure was due to the disloyalty and disobedience of subordinate commanders, notably General Fitz-John Porter whose corps (V) remained inactive on August 29. Porter was tried and dismissed from the Army for his conduct, but immediately began a campaign for reinstatement, which he finally won many years after. The controversy lasted throughout the lives of both generals; in fact, it may be said to continue even to this day. Pope was not again employed in field operations.
He was sent to the Department of the Northwest, where he served with credit in Indian troubles. In January 1865, he assumed command of the Division (later Department) of the Missouri. Near the close of the war (March 13, 1865) Pope received the brevet rank of major-general in the regular army, for his conduct of the expedition against Island No. 10. He commanded the 3rd Military District (Georgia, Alabama, and Florida) in 1867; the Department of the Lakes, 1868-70; the Department of the Missouri, 1870-83; and the Department of California and Division of the Pacific, from 1883 to March 16, 1886, when he was retired for age. On October 26, 1882, he was promoted major-general.
After the war, he wrote rather extensively concerning operations in which he took part. He died of nervous prostration at Sandusky, Ohio.
(Union general John Pope was among the most controversial ...)
Pope recommended that the reservation system would be better administered by the military than the corrupt Indian Bureau. He also engendered controversy by calling for better and more humane treatment of Native Americans.
He was handsome, dashing, soldierly, and a fine horseman; his personal appearance and manner combined with his military successes to bring about his advancement.
He was married on September 15, 1859, to Clara Pomeroy Horton, a daughter of Valentine B. Horton of Pomeroy, Ohio, who predeceased him. They had two sons and two daughters.