July 27, 1862 (Monday): Lee Wants Pope Supressed

General Adolphus Steinwehr

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
July 27, 1862.
General THOMAS J. JACKSON,
Commanding Valley District:
    GENERAL: I have received your dispatch of 26th instant.* I will send A. P. Hill's division and the Second Brigade of Louisiana Volunteers to you. Stafford's regiment (Ninth Louisiana) need not, therefore, be sent here, as directed in Special orders, Numbers 163. These troops will exceed 18,000 men. Your command ought certainly to number that amount. What has become of them? I heard they were coming
to you from the valley. Do not let your troops run down if it can possibly be avoided by attention to their wants, comforts, &c., by their respective commanders. This will require your personal attention; also consideration and preparation in your movements. I want Pope to be suppressed. The course indicated in his orders, if the newspapers report them correctly, cannot be permitted and will lead to retaliation on our part. You had better notify him the first opportunity. The order of Steinwehr must be disavowed, or you must hold the first captains from his army for retaliation. They will not be exchanged. A. P. Hill you will, I think, find a good officer, with whom you can consult, and by advising with your division commanders as to your movements much trouble will be saved you in arranging details, as they can act more intelligently. I wish to save you trouble from my increasing your command. Cache your troops as much as possible till you can strike your blow, and be prepared to return to me when done, if necessary. I will endeavor to keep General McClellan quiet till it is over, if rapidly executed.
    Very respectfully and truly,


R. E. LEE,
General.

*Not found.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 12, Part 3, Page 918.

Steinwehr had issued an order saying any civilian who violated their oath of allegiance (and all civilians within the lines of his division were forced to take the oath) would be shot.  This Confederate government issued orders, here related by Lee to Jackson, that no officers of Steinwehr's Division be considered eligible for exchange, so that if any civilians were executed under the order there would be an officer of his division shot on each occasion in retaliation.  Steinwehr was an effective officer, and as a native German was a good leader of a division which consisted of many immigrants.  After the war he taught at Yale.

As almost a postscript, Lee notifies Jackson of the assignment of Hill and his troops to Jackson's command, expressing the idea he was an officer who Jackson could consult with.  Lee appears to be gently admonishing Jackson to take his subordinates more into his confidence, but he could well have saved the ink.  Jackson and Hill did not take to each other, with Jackson ultimately preferring charges against him.  Hill found life with Jackson even more disagreeable than his time with Longstreet, whom he carried not at all for.