August 25, 1862 (Tuesday): Pope Perplexed

Waterloo, Virginia-Area of Jackson's Advance-Google Earth

Numbers 43. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, August 25, 1862.
Major-General HALLECK:
    Your dispatch just received. Of course I shall be ready to recross the Rappahannock at a moment's notice. You will see from the positions taken that each army corps is on the best roads across the river. You wished forty-eight hours to assemble the forces from the Peninsula behind the Rappahannock, and four days have passed without the enemy yet being permitted to cross. I don't think he is yet ready to do so. In ordinarily dry weather the Rappahannock can be crossed almost anywhere, and these crossing places are best protected by concentrating at central positions to strike at any force which attempts to cross. I had clearly understood that you wished to unite our whole forces before a forward movement was begun, and that I must take care to keep united with Burnside on my left, so that no movement to separate us could be made. This withdrew me lower down the Rappahannock than I wished to come. I am not acquainted with your views, as you seem to suppose, and would be glad to know them as far as my own position and operations are concerned.
    I understood you clearly that at all hazards I was to prevent the enemy from passing the Rappahannock. This I have done and shall do. I don't like to be on the defensive if I can help, but must be so as long as I am tied to Burnside's forces, not yet wholly arrived at Fredericksburg. Please let me know, if it can be done, what is to be my own command, and if I am to act independently against the enemy. I certainly understood that as soon as the whole of our forces were concentrated you designed to take command in person, and that when everything was ready we were to move forward in concert. I judge from the tone of your dispatch that you are dissatisfied with something. Unless I know what it is, of course I cannot correct it. The troops arriving here come in fragments. Am I to assign them to brigades and corps? I would suppose not, as several of the new regiments coming have been assigned to army corps directly from your office. In must know what forces I am to take and what you wish left and what connection must be kept up with Burnside. It has been my purpose to conform my operations to our plans, yet I was not informed when McClellan evacuated Harrison's Landing, so that I might know what to expect in that direction, and when I say these things in no complaining spirit I think you know well that I am anxious to do everything to advance your plans of campaign. I understood that his army was to maintain the line of the Rappahannock until all the forces from the Peninsula had united behind that river. I have done so. I understood distinctly that I was not to hazard anything except for this purpose, as delay was what was wanted.
    The enemy this morning has pushed a considerable infantry force up opposite Waterloo Bridge and is planting batteries, and long lines of his infantry are moving up from Jeffersonville toward Sulphur Spring. His whole force, as far as can be ascertained, is massed in front of me, from railroad crossing of Rappahannock around to Waterloo Bridge, their main body being opposite Sulphur Spring.


    JNO. POPE,
    Major-General.

The problem between Pope and Halleck was more logistical than personal.  Communications in the form of telegraph lines were broken by the Confederate advance and Halleck did not know where Pope was for significant lengths of time, and Pope was not receiving all of Halleck's instructions.  Lee's army was drawn up along the length of the Rappahanock River, the main force opposite what is now the Fauquier Springs Country Club, near Warrenton.