THE SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN.

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conversation with him, as I was engaged, as he was, in writing telegrams. Heseemed to me to exhibit a listlessness and indifference not quite natural underthe circumstances, which, however, it is not unusual for men to assume in themidst of dangers and difficulties, merely to impress one with their superiorcoolness.

The troops were disposed as follows: McDowell’s corps and Sigel’s corps wereat Warrenton under general command of General McDowell, with Banks ’scorps at Fayetteville as a reserve. Reno’s corps was directed upon the War-renton turnpike to take post three miles east of Warrenton. Porter’s corps wasnear Bealeton Station moving slowly toward Warrenton Junction; Heintzel-man at Warrenton Junction, with very small means to move in any direction.

Up to this time I had been placed by the positive orders of General Halleckmuch in the position of a man tied by one leg and fighting with a person muchhis physical superior and free to move in any direction. The followingtelegrams will explain exactly the situation as heretofore indicated:

“ August 25tli, 1862.

“Major-General Halleck: Your dispatch just received. Of course I shall be ready torecross the Rappahannock at a moment’s notice. You will see from the positions taken thateach army corps is on the best roads across the river. You wished forty-eight hours to assemblethe forces from the Peninsula behind the Rappahannock, and four days have passed withoutthe enemy yet being permitted to cross. I don’t think he is yet ready to do so. In ordinarilydry weather the Rappahannock can be crossed almost anywhere, and these crossing-places arebest protected by concentrating at central positions to strike at any force which attempts tocross. I had clearly understood that you wished to unite our whole forces before a forwardmovement was begun, and that I must take care to keep united with Burnside on my left, sothat no movement to separate us could be made. This withdrew me lower down the Rappa-hannock than I wished to come. I am not acquainted with your views, as you seem to suppose,and would be glad to know them so far as my own position and operations are concerned. Iunderstood you clearly that, at all hazards, I was to prevent the enemy from passing theRappahannock. This I have done, and shall do. I don’t like to be on the defensive if I canhelp it, but must be so as long as I am tied to Burnside’s forces, not yet wholly arrived atFredericksburg. Please let me know, if it can be done, what is to be my own command, and if Iam to act independently against the enemy. I certainly understood that, as soon as the whole ofour forces were concentrated, you designed to take command in person, and that, when every-thing was ready, we were to move forward in concert. I judge from the tone of your dispatchthat you are dissatisfied with something. Unless I know what it is, of course I can’t correct it.The troops arriving here come in frag'ments. Am I to assign them to brigades and corps ? Iwould suppose not, as several of the new regiments coming have been assigned to army corpsdirectly from your office. In case I commence offensive operations I must know what forces Iam to take and what you wish left, and what connection must be kept up with Burnside. Ithas been my purpose to conform my operations to your plans, yet I was not informed whenMcClellan evacuated Harrison’s Landing, so that I might know what to expect in that direc-tion ; and when I say these things in no complaining spirit I think that you know well that Iam anxious to do everything to advance your plans of campaign. I understood that this armywas to maintain the line of the Rappahannock until all the forces from the Peninsula hadunited behind that river. I have done so. I understood distinctly that I was not to hazardanything except for this purpose, as delay was what was wanted.

“ The enemy this morning - has pushed a considerable infantry force up opposite WaterlooBridge, and is planting batteries, and long lines of his infantry are moving up from Jefferson-ville toward Sulphur Springs. His whole force, as far as can be ascertained, is massed in frontof me, from railroad crossing of Rappahannock around to Waterloo Bridge, their main bodybeing opposite Sulphur Springs. “ John Pope, Major-General .”