Beschreibung:

CIVIL WAR]. POPE, JOHN, 1823-1892, General . Autograph letter signed ("John Pope") as General, to General George Crockett Strong, New Madrid, 17 March 1862. 1 1/4 pages, 4to, a few smudges of ink, formerly tipped to another sheet, with a three-line initialled postscript , otherwise fine. POPE AT NEW MADRID, ISLAND NO. 10 A letter written just three days after the Confederates abandoned new Madrid, Island No. 10: "If Commodore Foote can run past the batteries at Island 10 with two or three gun boats & reach this place, I can cross my whole force and capture every man of the enemy both at Island 10 & on the main land. I shall send a messenger...suggesting it, but for fear of accident you had perhaps best send him... "He had best be very cautious in approaching this place in case he gets past, & display a white flag some distance off..." New Madrid, Island No. 10 was constructed in 1861 by Confederate forces to block Union navigation of the Mississippi. General Halleck ordered Pope, commander of the Army of the Mississippi, to capture the island at New Madrid in order to reinforce General Grant's attack on Donelson. Pope began bombarding New Madrid, Island No. 10 on 13 March 1862; Confederate General William Mackall immediately evacuated the island. By 7 April 1862 Pope and four of his regiments cut the Confederate line of retreat at Tiptonville after building a canal through the Island. Pope's success greatly increased his reputation and led to his being selected by President Lincoln to command the Army of Virginia (Boatner, pp. 587-588).