John Pope

John Pope 1822-92, Union general in the American Civil War, b. Louisville, Ky. He fought with distinction at Monterrey and Buena Vista in the Mexican War and later served with the topographical engineers in the West. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Pope was made a brigadier general of volunteers. He served in Missouri under John C. Frémont and then under Henry W. Halleck. He was promoted to major general in Mar., 1862. As commander of the Army of the Mississippi, Pope captured New Madrid and Island No. 10 and took part in Halleck's move on Corinth. These successes brought him the command of the newly organized Army of Virginia (June, 1862) and a brigadier generalcy in the regular army. He attributed his bad defeat at the second battle of Bull Run to alleged disobedience on the part of Fitz-John Porter . Removed from command, Pope later campaigned against the Sioux. He commanded (1870-83) the Dept. of the Missouri.

Bibliography: See study by R. N. Ellis (1970).

Pope, John (1822–92) Union army officer, born in Kentucky. Pope was cited for bravery in the Mexican War (1846–48). A topographical engineer, he helped lay out the Pacific Railway. Pope was commissioned a brigadier general when the Civil War erupted, and he served under Gen. John C. Frémont, in 1862 heading the army of the Mississippi. President Abraham Lincoln named Pope to head the new Army of Virginia, a post he accepted reluctantly because he did not trust Gen. George B. McClellan to provide adequate backup in battle. His fears were realized during the Peninsular campaign when McClellan retreated, and Gen. Robert E. Lee split his troops and trapped Pope's forces, winning the Second Battle of Bull Run (1862). The defeat cost Pope his field command, although questions still remain about whether he was at fault or whether the inaction of his subordinate Fitz John Porter was to blame for the debacle.