Pope and Mac

[MikeyB]

My understanding is that Lincoln continually reassured McClellan that he would retain overall command of the Eastern Union army, and that once the AoP was off the Peninsula and united with the AoV, that he would take overall command.

Is there any evidence to suggest that Lincoln was only feeding McClellan a line, and that his intention was to replace him with Pope, assuming Pope didn't suffer a major defeat before the armies were united? Or do most historians believe Lincoln, at this point in time was still sticking with McClellan and Pope would have served under Mac, if not under a unified command than as a detached force subject to Mac's orders?

 

[Saint Jude]

I don't have any evidence to argue either way, but I think Lincoln was probably waiting to see if Pope was successful before he made any decision about who would be commander.

 

[Andy Cardinal]

If I remember correctly, McClellan believed he would command the combined forces (at least he did before he reached Alexandria) & Pope believed Halleck would take field command of the combined armies (like he did after Shiloh).

 

[OpnCoronet]

The Eastern Theatre would have been too small

 

[OpnCoronet]

IMO, there was no room for two cads in the Eastern Theatre.

McClellan expected Pope to fail, and Pope expected little mac to let him fail; they were both right.

 

[67th Tigers]

If I remember correctly, McClellan believed he would command the combined forces (at least he did before he reached Alexandria) & Pope believed Halleck would take field command of the combined armies (like he did after Shiloh).

Halleck had told McClellan multiple times that when the forces were combined then McClellan would assume command. Indeed, legally it could not be otherwise. The only way to get Pope to rank McClellan was to promote Pope Lt General.

Stanton issued the following order on the 30th:

WAR DEPARTMENT,
August 30, 1862.​

The following are the commanders of the armies operating in Virginia:
General Burnside commands his own corps, except those that have been temporarily detached and assigned to General Pope.
General McClellan commands that portion of the Army of the Potomac that has not been sent reward to General Pope's command.
General Pope commands the Army of Virginia and all the forces temporarily attached to it.
All the forces are under the command of Major-General Halleck, General-in-Chief.

E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.​

This settled the matter - Pope commanded all forces with him, and would command all forces further sent to him.

As things turned out, on 2nd September Halleck issued an order placing McClellan in command of the "Defences of Washington", and Pope's forces being in McClellan's department, ordered Pope to subordinate to McClellan. Pope of course detests this, and told Lincoln; "The blood of the slaughtered victims of this conspiracy cries from the ground.. In their name and the name of the country I ask that my official report be given at once to the public." In doing so he ends his career. He is refusing McClellan's order to prepare his forces for the field, and Lincoln kicks Pope out.

 

[Seduzal]

Thanks for sharing this interesting article.

 

[MikeyB]

Halleck had told McClellan multiple times that when the forces were combined then McClellan would assume command. Indeed, legally it could not be otherwise. The only way to get Pope to rank McClellan was to promote Pope Lt General.

Stanton issued the following order on the 30th:

​

WAR DEPARTMENT,
August 30, 1862.​

The following are the commanders of the armies operating in Virginia:​

General Burnside commands his own corps, except those that have been temporarily detached and assigned to General Pope.​

General McClellan commands that portion of the Army of the Potomac that has not been sent reward to General Pope's command.​

General Pope commands the Army of Virginia and all the forces temporarily attached to it.​

All the forces are under the command of Major-General Halleck, General-in-Chief.​

E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.​

This settled the matter - Pope commanded all forces with him, and would command all forces further sent to him.

As things turned out, on 2nd September Halleck issued an order placing McClellan in command of the "Defences of Washington", and Pope's forces being in McClellan's department, ordered Pope to subordinate to McClellan. Pope of course detests this, and told Lincoln; "The blood of the slaughtered victims of this conspiracy cries from the ground.. In their name and the name of the country I ask that my official report be given at once to the public." In doing so he ends his career. He is refusing McClellan's order to prepare his forces for the field, and Lincoln kicks Pope out.

Thanks for the post. So if Lee had idled his forces and Mac had united with Pope, I'm not sure what purpose Pope's presence would be other than glorified corps or wing commander. But I guess push comes to shove at that point, Honest Abe, do you want Pope or Mac?