2nd Manassas Pope & Second Manassas

[KianGaf]

I have a few questions and could do with some info. I was watching Ken Burns documentary and it gives a certain impression. That George McClellan was relived of his command of the army of the Potomac after the seven days battles and
Pope put in his stead. The battle record says Pope was in charge of the union army of Virginia and not of the Potomac ?

 

[Coonewah Creek]

The battle record says Pope was in charge of the union army of Virginia and not of the Potomac ?

Initially Pope was given command of the three "armies" that Jackson had bested during his Shenandoah Valley Campaign...the commands of Fremont, McDowell and Banks. Those combined commands constituted the Army of Virginia.

 

[Andy Cardinal]

I have a few questions and could do with some info. I was watching Ken Burns documentary and it gives a certain impression. That George McClellan was relived of his command of the army of the Potomac after the seven days battles and
Pope put in his stead. The battle record says Pope was in charge of the union army of Virginia and not of the Potomac ?

McClellan continued to command the Army of the Potomac, consisting of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th Corps at Harrison's Landing. In August McClellan was ordered to withdraw from the Peninsula and most of his army was sent to reinforce Pope. Much of the 4th Corps remained on the Peninsula after the army withdrew (Couch's division ultimately became part of the 6th Corps).

Pope was named commander of the Army of Virginia in late June. The Army of Virginia was a conglomeration of three separate commands -- McDowell's Department of the Rappahanock, Bank's command, and Fremont's Department. After the defeat at 2nd Manassas, these corps were integrated into the Army of the Potomac -- McDowell's became the 1st Corps, Fremont's (Sigel's) became the 11th Corps, and Banks's became the 12th Corps.

 

[Belfoured]

I have a few questions and could do with some info. I was watching Ken Burns documentary and it gives a certain impression. That George McClellan was relived of his command of the army of the Potomac after the seven days battles and
Pope put in his stead. The battle record says Pope was in charge of the union army of Virginia and not of the Potomac ?

You are essentially correct - with the modification that the Army of the Potomac's III Corps and V Corps were assigned to Pope's command for 2BR and the II and VI were supposed to be in the process of going there as part of the requirement that McClellan "support" Pope. So he remained in command of the A of the P but as a practical matter most of his troops were temporarily subject to - or were supposed to be subject to - Pope's direction. One of the charges against McClellan was that he exercised his authority by holding back the II and VI Corps.

 

[KianGaf]

Did any troops remain on the peninsula at Harrison's landing or were all withdrawn? I find the second battle of Manassas very interesting and regret not going to the sites on the battlefield after concentrating more on the sites of Bull Run.

 

[Belfoured]

Did any troops remain on the peninsula at Harrison's landing or were all withdrawn? I find the second battle of Manassas very interesting and regret not going to the sites on the battlefield after concentrating more on the sites of Bull Run.

As Andy points out, part of the IV Corps stayed on the Peninsula. If i recall correctly it was involved in an "attempt" on Richmond in summer 1863 that ended up going nowhere. It was then disbanded.

 

[jackt62]

Did any troops remain on the peninsula at Harrison's landing or were all withdrawn? I find the second battle of Manassas very interesting and regret not going to the sites on the battlefield after concentrating more on the sites of Bull Run.

While at Harrison's Landing, McClellan insisted on reinforcements to mount an additional offensive towards Richmond. General Halleck and the Lincoln Administration would not agree to this and finally pulled the plug on McClellan by forcing a withdrawal of all AOTP Corps from the Peninsula.

 

[Belfoured]

While at Harrison's Landing, McClellan insisted on reinforcements to mount an additional offensive towards Richmond. General Halleck and the Lincoln Administration would not agree to this and finally pulled the plug on McClellan by forcing a withdrawal of all AOTP Corps from the Peninsula.

In vintage McClellan fashion, if I recall correctly he also at one point upped the estimate of what he would need.