July 25, 1862 (Saturday): Pope Removes Protection of Civilian Property

General Pope's HQ at Rappahannock Station (13thMass.org)

GENERAL ORDERS, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,

No. 13.
Washington, July 25, 1862.
    Hereafter no guards will be placed over private houses or private property of any description whatever. Commanding officers are responsible for the conduct of the troops under their command, and the Articles of War and Regulations of the Army provide ample means for restraining them to the full extent required for discipline and efficiency.
    Soldiers were called into the field to do battle against the enemy, and it is not expected that their force and energy shall be wasted in protecting private property of those most hostile to the Government.
No soldier serving in this army shall hereafter be employed in such service.
    By command of Major-General Pope:


GEO. D. RUGGLES,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.

Pope was regarded by Confederate authorities in general, and Lee in particular, as a miscreant.  He had come from the west, where the armies were less disciplined and war involved civilians to a much greater extent than in the east.  In many of the flurry of orders he issued on assuming command he appears intent on gaining favor with the administration by contradicting statements and practices of McClellan, lenient treatment of civilians being one.  His denouement as a commander would come shortly.