of you to-morrow night, and have requested General Halleck to push
forward Franklin at once, carrying his baggage and supplies by rail
road to the point where the Manassas Gap Railroad intersects the
Warrenton turnpike. From that position he can either advance to your
support or prevent your right from being turned from the direction of
the Manassas Gap Railroad. I think our fight should be made at War
renton, and if you can postpone it for two days everything will be right.
J^O. POPE,
Major- General, Commanding.
70 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV.
No. 52.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Warrenton Junction, August 26, 1862 8.20 p. m.
Major-General HEINTZELMAN,
Commanding, &c. :
The major-general commanding the Army of Virginia directs me to
send you the inclosed communication, and to request that you put a
regiment on a train of cars and send it down immediately to Manassas
to ascertain what has occurred, repair the telegraph wires, and protect
the railroad there, till further orders.
With great respect, general, your obedient servant,
T. C. H. SMITH,
Lieutenant-Colonel and Aide-de-Camp.
Xo. 53.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
August 26, 186212 in.
General McDoWELL:
General Sigel reports the enemy s rear guard at Orleans to-night,
with his main force encamped at White Plains. You will please ascer
tain very early in the morning whether this is so, and have the whole
of your command in readiness to march. You had best ascertain it to
night if you possibly can. Our communications have been interrupted
by the enemy s cavalry near Manassas. Whether his whole force, or the
larger part of it, has gone around is a question which we must settle
instantly, and no portion of his force must march opposite to us to-night
without our knowing it. I telegraphed you an hour or two ago what
dispositions I had made, supposing the advance through Thoroughfare
to be a column of not more than 10,000 or 15,000 men. If his whole
force, or the larger part of it, has gone, we must know it at once.
The troops here have no artillery, and if the main forces of the
enemy are still opposite to you you must send forward to Greenwich,
to be there to-morrow evening, two batteries of artillery, or three if
you can get them, to meet Kearny.
We must know at a very early hour in the morning, so as to deter
mine our plans.
JNO. POPE,
Major- General.
No. 54.
GENERAL ORDERS, ) HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
No. . j Warrenton Junction, August 27, 1862.
The following movement of troops will be made, viz :
Major-General McDowell, with his own and SigePs corps and the
division of Brigadier- General Reynolds, will pursue the turnpike from
Warrenton to Gainesville, so as to reach Gainesville, if possible, to
night.
The army corps of General Heintzelman, with the detachment of
the Ninth Corps, under Major-General Eeno (General Eeno leading),
will take the road from Catlett s Station to Greenwich, so as to reach
there to-night or early in the morning. Major-General Eeno will im
mediately communicate with ^laj or- General McDowell, and his com
mand, as well as that of Major-General Heintzelman, will support
Major-General McDowell in any operations against the enemy.
C!HAI>. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 71
Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter will remain at Warrentou Junction till
he is relieved by Maj or- General Banks, when he will immediately push
forward with his corps in the direction of Greenwich and Gainesville,
to assist the operations on the right wing.
Major-General Banks, as soon as he arrives at Warrenton Junction,
will assume the charge of the trains and cover their movement toward
Manassas Junction. The trains of his own corps, under escort of two
regiments of infantry and a battery of artillery, will pursue the road
south of the railroad, which conducts into the rear of Manassas Junc
tion. As soon as all the trains have x>assed Warrenton Junction he
will take post behind Cedar Kuu, covering the fords and bridges of
that stream, and holding his position as long as possible. He will cause
all the railroad trains to be loaded with the public and private stores
now here, and run them back toward Manassas Junction as far as the
railroad is practicable. Wherever a bridge is burned, so as to prevent
the farther passage of the railroad trains, he will assemble them all as
near together as possible, and protect them with his command until the
bridges are rebuilt. If the enemy is too strong before him before the
bridge can be repaired, he will be careful to destroy entirely the trains,
locomotives, and stores before he falls back in the direction of Manas
sas Junction. He is, however, to understand that he is to defend his
position as long as possible, keeping himself in constant communica
tion with Major-General Porter on his right. If any sick now in hos
pital at Warrenton Junction are not provided for and able to be trans
ported, he will have them loaded into the wagon train of his own corps,
even should this necessitate the destruction of much baggage and regi
mental property, and carried to Manassas Junction. The very impor
tant duties devolving upon Major-General Banks the major-general
commanding the Army of Virginia feels assured will be discharged
with intelligence, courage, and fidelity.
The general headquarters will be with the corps of Major-General
Heintzelman until further notice.
By command of Major-General Pope:
GEO. D. EUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
No. 55.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Bristoe Station, August 27, 18626.30 p. in.
Maj. Gen. FITZ JOHN PORTER,
Warrenton Junction :
GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you start
at 1 o clock to-night and come forward with your whole corps, or such
part of it as is with you, so as to be here at daylight to-morrow morn
ing. Hooker has had a very severe action with the enemy, with a loss
of about 300 killed and wounded. The enemy. has been driven back,
but is retiring along the railroad. We must drive him from Manassas,
and clear the country between that place and Gainesville, where Mc
Dowell is. If Morell has not joined you, send word to him to push
forward immediately. Also send word to Banks to hurry forward with
all speed to take your place at Warrenton Junction, It is necessary,
on all accounts, that you should be here by daylight.
I send an officer with this dispatch, who will conduct you to this
place. Be sure to send word to Banks, who is on the road from Fayette-
ville, probably in the direction of Bealeton. Say to Banks also that he
72 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV.
had best run back the railroad trains to this side of Cedar Bun. If he
is not with you, write him to that effect.
By command of Major-General Pope :
GEO. D. KUGGLES,.
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
p. g. if Banks is not at Warrenton Junction, leave a regiment of
infantry and two pieces of artillery as a guard till he comes up, with
instructions to follow you immediately upon his doing so. . If Banks
is not at the Junction, instruct Colonel Clary to run the trains back to
this side of Cedar Eun, and post a regiment and section of artillery
with it.
By command of Major-General Pope :
GEO. D. EUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
No. 56.
HEADQUARTERS,
Bristoe, August 27, 18629 p. m.
Major-General KEARNY :
At the very earliest blush of dawn push forward with your command
with all speed to this place. You cannot be more than 3 or 4 miles dis
tant. Jackson, A. P. Hill, and Ewell are in front of us. Hooker has
had a severe fight with them to-day. McDowell marches upon Manas
sas Junction from Gainesville to-morrow at daybreak ; Eeno upon the
same place at the same hour. I want you here at day-dawn, if possible,
and we shall bag the whole crowd. Be prompt and expeditious, and
never mind wagon trains or roads till this affair is over. Lieutenant
Brooks will deliver you this communication. He has one for General
Eeno and one for General McDowell. Please bave these dispatches
sent forward instantly by a trusty staff officer, who will be sure to de
liver them without fail, and make him bring back a receipt to you before
daylight. Lieutenant Brooks will remain with you and bring you to
this camp. Use the cavalry I send you to escort your staff officer to
McDowell and Eeno.
JNO. POPE,
Major -General, Commanding.
No. 57.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Bristoe Station, August 27, 1862 9 p. m,
Major-General MCDOWELL :
At daylight to-morrow morning march rapidly on Manassas Junc
tion with your whole force, resting your right on the Manassas Gap
Eailroad, throwing your left well to the east. Jackson, Ewell, and
A. P. Hill are between -Gainesville and Manassas Junction. We had a
severe fight with them to-day, driving them back several miles along
the railroad. If you will march promptly and rapidly at the earliest
dawn of day upon Manassas Junction we shall bag the whole crowd.
I have directed Eeno to march from Greenwich at the same hour upon
Manassas Junction, and Kearny, who is in his rear, to march on Bris
toe at daybreak. Be expeditious, and the day is our own.
JKO. POPE,
Major- General, Commanding.
CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 73
No. 58.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Bristoe Station, August 28, 1862 10.40 a. m.
Major-General BANKS, Warrenton Junction :
GENERAL : Major- General Pope directs me to say that as soon as the
railroad trains and all public property shall have been safely run back
from Warrenton Junction you will move your command back to Kettle
Bun Bridge, where you will find the railroad obstructed and the rail
road trains stopped. You will there take the same measures to save
the public property from attack by the enemy as directed in copy of
general orders from these headquarters sent to you yesterday through
Major- General Porter.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. D. EUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
No. 59.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Bristoe Station, August 28, 186210.50 a. m.
Colonel CLARY, Chief Quartermaster, Army of Virginia :
Major-General Pope directs that all the wagon trains be kept closed
up and close in rear of the troops. You will accordingly give instruc
tions to the various subordinate quartermasters, including regimental
quartermasters, to keep their trains closed and immediately in rear of
the troops. Please see that this order is executed.
By command of Major-General Pope:
GEO. D. BUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
No. 60.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Bristoe Station, August 28, 186211 a. m.
Surgeon MoPARLiN, Medical Director, Army of Virginia :
SIR : Major-General Pope directs that you take measures to hunt up
the wounded of the enemy, and to provide for them the same as for our
own soldiers.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. D. EUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
No. 61.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Bristoe Station, August 28, 186211.10 a. m.
Lieut. F. J. SHUNK,
Chief of Ordnance, Army of Virginia :
The major-general commanding directs that one or two boxes of
ammunition be thrown into every wagon that passes the railroad train
where the ammunition now is, no matter to whom the wagon or wagon
train belongs.
By command of Major-General Pope :
GEO. D. EUGGLES.
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
74 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXiV.
No. 62.
SPECIAL ORDERS, ) HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
No. . | Manassas Junction, August 28, 1862.
The trains will come forward in the following order, viz : 1st, Heint-
zelman s; 2d, McDowell s; 3d, Sigel s; 4th, Porter s.
All the supply and regimental trains will be sent forward to this
place as rapidly as possible, ammunition being forwarded in advance
of all other supplies.
By command of Major- General Pope:
GEO. D. EUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
No. 63.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Bristoe Station, August 28, 1862 11.20 a. m.
Colonel CLARY,
Chief Quartermaster, Army of Virginia :
The major-general commanding directs that one or two boxes of
ammunition be thrown into every wagon that passes the railroad train
where the ammunition now is, no matter to whom the wagon or wagon
train belongs. He also directs that the railroad trains be unloaded
into the passing wagon trains in the same manner, commencing first to
unload the ammunition, as hereinbefore directed.
By command of Major-General Pope :
GEO. D. EUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
No. 64.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Manassas Junction, August 28, 1862 2 p. m.
Major-General MCDOWELL :
I sent you a dispatch a few minutes ago directing you to move on Green
[Gum] Spring, to intercept Jackson. Since then I have received your
note of this morning. I will this evening push forward Eeno to Gaines
ville, and follow with Heintzelman, unless there is a large force of the
enemy at Centre ville, which I do not believe. Ascertain, if you can,
about this. I do not wish you to carry out the order to proceed to
Green Spring if you consider it too hazardous, but I will support you in
any way you suggest by pushing forward from Manassas Junction across
the turnpike. Jackson has a large train, which certainly should be
captured. Give me your views fully; you know the country much
better than I do. Come no farther in this direction with your com
mand, but call back what has advanced thus far.
JNO. POPE,
Major- General, Commanding.
No. 65.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Near Bull Run, August 28, 18629.50 p. m.
Major-General KEARNY:
GENERAL : General McDowell has intercepted the retreat of the
enemy, and is now in his front j Sigel on the right of McDowell.
CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 75
Unless he can escape by passes leading to the north to-night he must
be captured. I desire you to move forward at 1 o clock to-night, even
if you can carry with you no more than 2,000 men, though I trust you
will carry the larger part of your division. Pursue the turnpike from
Centreville to Warreuton. The enemy is not more than 3 miles from
you. Seize any of the people of the town to guide you. Advance
cautiously and drive in the enemy s pickets to-night, and at early dawn
attack him vigorously. Hooker shall be close behind you. Extend
your right well in the attack. Be sure to march not later than 1 with
all the men you can take.
JNO. POPE,
Major- General , Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Near Bull Run, August 28, 186210 p. m.
Major-General HEINTZELMAN:
GENERAL : General McDowell has intercepted the retreat of the
enemy. Sigel is immediately on his right, and I see no possibility of
his escape. I have instructed Kearny to push forward cautiously at 1
o clock to-night until he drives in the pickets of the enemy, and to
assault him vigorously at daylight in the morning. It is of the last
importance that Hooker shall march at 3 o clock to-night, taking the
turnpike from Centreville to Warrentcm, and resting on that road 1 J
miles beyond Centreville, as a reserve for Kearny. Send a copy of this
dispatch to Hooker immediately; and I beg you particularly to see that
Hooker marches at the time specified, even if he should have to do so
with one-half of his men. I shall rely upon this.
JNO. POPE,
Major- General, Commanding.
No. 67.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Near Bull Run, August 29, 18623 a. m.
Major-General PORTER :
GENERAL : McDowell has intercepted the retreat of Jackson. Sigel
is immediately on the right of McDowell. Kearny and Hooker march
to attack the enemy s rear at early dawn.
Major-General Pope directs you to move upon Centreville at the first
dawn of day with your whole command, leaving your trains to follow.
It is very important that you should be here at a very early hour in the
morning. A severe engagement is likely to take place, and your pres
ence is necessary.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. D. RUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
No. 68.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Near Bull Run, August 29, 18625 a. m.
Major-General EENO :
I sent you verbal orders by Colonel Smith last night. News from
the front makes it necessary to modify them. You will accordingly
76 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV.
inove rapidly on Centreville by the road past these headquarters.
Upon arriving at Centreville you will take the turnpike toward War-
reuton, and push forward rapidly. You will find the whole corps of
Heintzelinan in front of you. Pass his stragglers, and keep well up with
his commanfl, pushing rapidly toward any heavy firing you may hear.
JNO. POPE,
Major- General, Commanding.
No. 69.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Centreville, August 29, 18G2.
Generals MCDOWELL and PORTER:
You will please move forward with your joint commands toward
Gainesville. I sent General Porter written orders to that effect an
hour and a half ago. Heintzelinan, Sigel, and Reno are moving on the
Warren ton turnpike, and must now be not far from Gainesville. I de
sire that as soon as communication is established between this force
and your own the whole command shall halt. It may be necessary to
fall back behind Bull Run at Centreville to-night. I presume it will be
so, on account of our supplies. I have sent no orders of any descrip
tion to Ricketts, and none to interfere in any way with the movements
of McDowell s troops, except what I sent by his aide-de-camp last
night, which were to hold his position on the Warrenton pike until the
troops from here should fall on the enemy s flank and rear. I do not
even know Ricketts 7 position, as I have not been able to find out where
General McDowell was until a fate hour this morning. General Mc
Dowell will take immediate steps to communicate with General Rick
etts, and instruct him to rejoin the other divisions of his corps as soon
as practicable.
If any considerable advantages are to be gained by departing from
this order it will not be strictly carried out. One thing must be had
in view, that the troops must occupy a position from which they can
reach Bull Run to-night or by morning. The indications are that the
whole force of the enemy is moving in this direction at a pace that will
bring them here by to-morrow night or the next day. My own head
quarters will be for the present with Heintzelman s corps or at this
place.
JKO. POPE,
Major- General, Commanding.
No. 71.*
HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD,
August 29, 18625 p. m.
Major-General BANKS :
GENERAL : I would prefer that you send your trains direct to Man-
assas Junction and Centreville. The road is clear and there is no diffi
culty about it. Send them through as soon as you can. Send back
working parties to try and get the railroad in sufficiently good order,
if the trains may be worked back to Bull Run. This is of the last im
portance, and you cannot get it done too soon. Work night and day
at it.
JNO. POPE,
Major- General, Commanding.
* No. 70, here omitted, is a duplicate of inclosure B to Pope s report of September 3.
See p. 18.
CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 77
No. 74.*
BULL BUN, August 30, 1862 6.30 a. m.
Colonel CLARY,
Chief Quartermaster, Army of Virginia :
COLONEL : You will immediately send to Alexandria an officer to
bring out all supplies of forage and stores (forage particularly) required
for this command. The stores will be brought to Fairfax by rail, and
thence by wagons to Centreville. The officer sent by you will obtain
from the commanding officer at Alexandria the escort necessary to pro
tect the train.
By command of General Pope :
GEO. D. EUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
No. 75.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Battle-field near Groveton, August 30, 1862 9 a. m.
Colonel CLARY,
Chief Quartermaster, Army of Virginia :
Major-General Pope directs that you send 250 wagons to Major-Gen
eral Banks, in order that he may remove his sick and public property
from his present position to Centreville or vicinity.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. D. EUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff .
No. 76.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Near Groveton, August 30, 1862.
Colonel BECKWITH,
Chief Commissary :
COLONEL: General Pope directs that all the wagons at Centreville
be unloaded there and the property stored. The wagons will then be
sent to Sangster s Station to haul subsistence stores from that place to
Centreville.
By command of Major-General Pope :
GEO. D. EUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
No. 77.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
August 30, 1862 6 p. m.
General FRANKLIN:
Post your command and whatever other troops you can collect and
put them in the fortifications and other strong positions around Centre
ville, and hold those positions to the last extremity.
Bv command of General Pope:
GEO. D. EUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
* No. 72, here omitted, is a duplicate of inclosure C to report of September 3, and
NO. 73 a duplicate of inclosure A to that report. See pp. 17, 18.
78 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV.
No. 78.
AUGUST 30 6.45 p. m.
Colonel CLARY:
You will immediately put all the wagons and everything that inter
feres with the range of artillery from the works at Centre ville a good
distance to the rear, on the other side of the town, out of range of the
artillery from the works.
By command of Major- General Pope:
GEO. D. EUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
No. 79.
AUGUST 30, 18626.30 p. m.
General BANKS:
Destroy the public property at Bristoe and fall back upon Centre-
ville at once. Destroy all the railroad property. Your troops at Bris
toe will withdraw through Brentsville. Your troops at Manassas and
between there and Bristoe will withdraw to Centreville.
By command of Major-General Pope:
GEO. D. ETJGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
No. 80.
AUGUST 308 p. m.
General HEINTZELMAN :
(To be opened and read by Generals Kearny and Hooker:)
GENERALS: Retire to Ceutreville to-night with your commands. If
possible go by the way of Sudley s Ford. General Eeno commands
the rear guard on the turnpike by which the balance of the army will
fall back. Upon your arrival at Centreville you will assemble your
commands on the north side of that town. Early in the morning proper
positions will be assigned you.
By command of Major-General Pope:
GEO. D. EUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
No. 81.
SPECIAL ORDERS, ) HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
No. . f Centrevillc, August 30, 1862.
The prisoners of war now at this place will be sent to-morrow to
Washington City under guard of one regiment of infantry, to be fur
nished for this purpose by Major-General McDowell.
By command of Major-General Pope :
GEO. D. EUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff \
No. 82.
CENTREVILLE, August 30, 18629.45 p. m.
Major-General HALLECK,
General-in- Chief:
We have had a terrific battle again to-day. The enemy, largely re-en-
assaulted our position early to-day. We held our ground firmly
CHAI-. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 79
until p. in., when the enemy, massing very heavy forces on our left,
forced back that wing about half a mile. At dark we held that posi
tion. Underall the circumstances, both horses and men having been two
"days without food ; and the enemy greatly outnumbering us, I thought
it best to draw back to this place at dark. The movement has been
made in perfect order and without loss. The troops are in good heart,
and inarched off the field without the least hurry or confusion. Their
conduct was very fine. The battle was most furious for hours without
cessation, and the losses on both sides very heavy. The enemy is badly
crippled, and we shall do well enough. Do not be uneasy. We will
hold our own here. The labors and hardships of this army for two or
three weeks have been beyond description. We have delayed the
enemy as long as possible without losing the army. We have damaged
him heavily, and I think the army entitled to the gratitude of the coun
try. Be easy ; everything will go well.
JNO. POPE,
Major-General.
P. S. We have lost nothing ; neither guns nor wagons.
WASHINGTON, August 31, 1862 11 a. m.
Major-General POPE :
MY DEAR GENERAL : You have done nobly. Don t yield another
inch if you can avoid it. All reserves are being sent forward. Couch s
division goes to-day. Part of it went to Sangster s Station last night
with Franklin and Sumner, who must be now with you. Can t you
renew the attack ? I don t write more particularly for fear dispatch
will not reach you. I am doing all in my power for you and your noble
army. God bless you and it.
Send me news more often if possible.