AUGUST 29-30 , 1862

Second Manassas

End of the Peninsula Campaign

Even though McClellan had been defeated, his army was still in a strategic location, just 25 miles from Richmond and on a supply line it could keep open (it would be 1864 before the Federals got this close to Richmond again)

One course would have been for Lincoln to keep the army where it was and remove the commander

Instead, Lincoln ordered the Army of the Potomac to withdraw from the Peninsula

Ultimately, most of the Army of the Potomac would come under the command of John Pope as the Army of Virginia

Pope’s General Orders

When Pope assumed command he issued an abrasive and boastful address on July 14 which served to alienate and insult many in his new command

Then issued a series of General Orders that certainly enraged the Confederacy and showed he had an aggressive and hostile policy toward civilians and private property

That Lincoln acquiesced to these orders showed that perhaps he was shifting away from the mild, conciliatory approach to something more authoritarian

Pope’s General Orders

General Order Number 5 stated that the army should live off the land.

General Order Number 7 outlined how Pope planned to deal with the local citizenry.

General Order Number 11 called for the immediate arrest of all disloyal male citizens and compelled them to either take an oath of allegiance to the United States or be deported further south. Pope appeared naively surprised when he learned

that soldiers had taken his orders as a license to plunder and maraud, and he attempted to correct this situation with General Order Number 19.

Pope’s General Orders

GENERAL POPE: “Well, Sir; who are you, and what do you want?” STRANGER. “I am—aw—Aid-de-Camp to GENERAL STONEWALL JACKSON. The GENERAL sends his—aw—Compliments, and wishes to know if you can let him have a few Bottles of Rose-Water?” GENERAL POPE. “Tell the GENERAL that this Concern has changed hands; and the present Head of the Firm has given up the Rose-Water Branch of Business, as he finds it don't pay!”

Cartoon from Harper’s Weekly Aug 9, 1862 reflecting Pope’s new policies

End of the Peninsula Campaign and Lee’s Offensive

As soon as Lee ascertained the army was withdrawing from the Peninsula, he went after Pope in northern Virginia

Lee was able to operate within his enemy’s decision cycle

Lee ordered his army to move the day of the Federal withdraw and before the first divisions of the Army of the Potomac had landed at Aquia Creek, Lee had raced north and had Pope surrounded just south of Manassas

Lee and the Turning Movement

The Peninsula confirmed Lee’s belief in the turning movement and was the beginning of his partnership with Jackson Lee learned during the Seven Days the wisdom of

“not attacking [the Federals] in their strong and chosen positions. They ought always to be turned.”

He told Jackson, it was “to save you the abundance of hard fighting that I ventured to suggest for your consideration not to attack the enemy’s strong points, but to turn his position… I would rather you have easy fighting and heavy victories.”

Pope would be the first victim of this wisdom

Second Manassas

Pope had been trying to relieve pressure on McClellan by operating against Confederate rail communications at Gordonsville and Charlottesville

His forces were largely in defensive positions along the Rappahannock River

When Lee realized McClellan was withdrawing, he boldly ordered Jackson to break things open by leading his 24,000 men on a wide swing around Pope’s right to strike his supply lines and cut his communications with Washington

Second Manassas

Jackson marched 51 miles in two days and struck Manassas Junction with fury, burning Federal supplies

Then Jackson withdrew to a position north of the Warrenton Turnpike near the First Manassas battlefield and waited for Lee to arrive with the rest of the army

Pope ordered his scattered forces to concentrate near Centreville to counter Jackson and to be ready to receive McClellan’s reinforcements

Second Manassas

On Aug 28, 1862 Jackson observed Federals moving eastward toward Centreville

Jackson had to choose: Attacking might bring the full weight of Pope’s

army against him before Lee could join him Waiting might allow Pope and McClellan to unite

before the Confederates could bring about a battleJackson chose to attack ordering his division

commanders to “Bring out your men, gentlemen”

Second Manassas

There was a fierce fight and as darkness closed the Federals slowly withdrew

By dawn on the 29th Jackson had adjusted his three divisions along a 2 ½ mile section of an unfinished railroad bed

Pope thought Jackson was retreating and ordered a full scale attack

Second Manassas

Pope launched a series of uncoordinated and unsuccessful attacks and Jackson’s line held

At around noon, Longstreet arrived with 28,000 men and took positions on Jackson’s right

Pope began receiving reinforcements from the Peninsula which, instead of massing for one big attack, he continued to commit piecemeal

Although big gaps were torn in the Confederate line, Jackson was able to shift his forces to meet each threat

Second Manassas

On Aug 30, Pope attacked with 7,000 men he expected to use to finish off Jackson (who he thought was beaten and withdrawing)

In reality, Pope was advancing into the jaws of a trap

Jackson had not retreated at all but was standing fast with 18,000 men

Concealed at a right angle was Longstreet with 28,000 fresh soldiers

Second Manassas

Jackson not only held but forced the Federals to fall back

Lee unleashed Longstreet and the jaws of the Confederate trap closed on Pope

Second Manassas

The Federals suffered 14,462 casualties (the Confederates 9,474)

Pope was transferred to Minnesota and the Army of Virginia was disbanded and incorporated into McClellan’s Army of the Potomac

Lee proceeded to build on this victory to invade Maryland