What was the plan for McClellan and the AotP w/ respect to Pope and the AoV? Once the units were consolidated, did Lincoln intend for the AotP to continue to operate as a separate army, under the command of Pope? Were they two separate but equal army commands that Halleck had to coordinate with Mac mantaining control of the AoTP? Was the AotP supposed to fold into AoV, in which case what was Mac's job?
2nd Bull run kind of blew this all up but what was in fact the command plan?
Evidently the President had ordered the forward movement of the Army of the Potomac on the 22nd of February and it didn't move. Then gave it ten days to move from March 1, and it eventually was advanced upon Manassas, as the Confederates withdrew toward Richmond, etc. According to Secretary of the Treasury S.P. Chase the President etc. preferred Mac just march upon Richmond. But he preferred the movement upon Richmond from the Peninsula... so this was allowed and the Army of the Potomac moved thence accordingly, and approached Richmond from the east side during March through early June.
General Pope was appointed commander of the "Army of Virginia" organized from June 26. The forces included were rather widely scattered, and Pope moved to reorganize and consolidate his movable force along the Rapidan, etc. Pope notes of his general instructions...
This army, consequently, commenced organization etc. the day after the commencement of the Seven Days battles near Richmond.
Secretary Chase says that after McClellan's retreat from Richmond toward Harrison's landing commenced, and his messages warning of potentially having to capitulate with his army, etc., there was some discussion about relieving him of command of the Army of the Potomac, which Chase says he and Secretary of War Stanton pressed, and perhaps giving Pope command of the Army of the Potomac. The President instead appointed Gen. Halleck as General-in-chief over all, to attempt to keep things in hand. Chase says Halleck informed him in this period that he would keep a handle on McClellan to avoid disaster...
Chase:
Anyways, Pope's army commenced operations in a manner to threaten Richmond, while Halleck had discussions with McClellan about advancing again from Harrison's landing. Ultimately McClellan wouldn't move without large reinforcement. So the Army of the Potomac was ordered by water to Aquia Creek, and from there to reinforce and support Pope. There was in the meantime the Battle of Cedar Mountain, and then Pope's army held a line along the Rappahannock after the 18th of August, during which General Halleck hoped movement of enough of McClellan's troops to unite with Pope might give great advantage. Halleck stated:
In the latter case, were McClellan retained in command of part of the Army of the Potomac, separate from Pope's army, it would likely have been under a general command by Halleck perhaps. But I suspect from the comments by Secretary Chase and some others, that had Pope's operations proved even moderately successful, Pope might have have ended up in command of the combined armies.
But, with McClellan's army arriving about Aquia Creek, etc., it was ordered to detach to reinforce Pope, etc. ultimately ca. 40,000 troops who didn't make it to Pope's army in time to forestall disaster. General Halleck himself ended up in a three or four day tangle with Mac about forwarding more troops toward Pope at Manassas. McClellan finally sending a notice direct to the President that all troops should be retained about Washington, and Pope left to get out of his own "scrape." Nicolay and Hay (vol. 6, p. 23) said the President, particularly after Pope's defeat within hours of the last, was rather outraged personally by it.
Secretary Chase says the Army of Virginia and the Army of the Potomac thus only came together by Pope's defeat and withdrawal to Washington... rather than in the field, supporting a success by Pope...
Secretary Chase says, even after Pope's defeat, he would have preferred that in the emergency the President shelf McClellan, and perhaps keep Pope. But the President did the opposite, and gave McClellan general command over all on the 2nd of September. Lincoln's secretaries Nicolay and Hay say that Pope wasn't considered incompetent, but his declarations to the troops had been impolitic, and certainly his fresh defeat didn't inspire the troops with confidence. Also that Lincoln felt any other general commanding the Army of the Potomac might not be seconded or supported as they should have been, in any case. Lincoln:
Hay and Nicolay, also noted that the President was also aware, that in the midst of the disasters and emergency of the hour, and struggles in recruiting, etc., General McClellan was a favorite of the opposition to the administration, which would encourage his success as much as it might crow of Pope's failure.
Lincoln was evidently pleased with the burst of activity by McClellan distinct from his recent inaction and arguments...
It was Pope who was snubbed this week. When he applied for clarification of his orders on September 5, General Halleck replied...
McClellan's resulting campaign against Lee's movement into Maryland was generally successful. McClellan, on a march of ten days, reorganizing troops from different armies, (Army of the Potomac, Army of Virginia, and defenses of Washington, Burnside's command, and the Kanawha Division, etc.) before the actions resulting in the Battle of Antietam. I.W. Heysinger observing...
The Report of Major-General Pope...
George Gordon's history of the Army of Virginia...
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