Customer Reviews

General John Pope: A Life for the Nation

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I have enjoyed all of Cozzens' works very much, but I think that this is Cozzens' best written book. This book isn't really a reassessment of Pope. Rather Cozzens takes the traditional view of Pope's generalship at Second Bull Run and places it within the context of Pope's entire career. Cozzens doesn't pull any punches on Pope's performance in Virginia in 1862. He was a liar and a braggart, he needlessly antagonized his own men, and he was severely overtaxed as an army commander.

Still, Cozzens shows that Pope had probably the toughest assignment of any Union army commander in the war. He had to take three beaten and demoralized commands from the valley under three very poor commanders (Banks, Sigel, and McDowell). With that force he was to screen Washington AND attack Lee, coordinate with George McClellan, who was in full heel-dragging mode, obey Halleck's confused and contradictory directives, and do it all in unfamiliar country with almost no cavalry. His opponent was the best general of the war, and the ANV was flush with victory from the Seven Days. It was Pope's first experience commanding troops in combat. It's no wonder that Lee beat him.

But Cozzens also shows that Pope was a skilled administrator, an aggressive general, and, in time, a good strategist. The "exile" to Minnesota turned out to be an important command, and Pope played a huge role in defeating the plains Indians. He was an effective military governor during reconstruction. He retired a major general in the regular army, a successful and influential servant of his nation.

After reading this book, I have a whole new opinion of Pope, or rather my opinion is more complex. I still think he bears the brunt of the blame for Second Bull Run, but I can see more reasons for his defeat than just "Pope was an obnoxious jerk." I think it's a shame that Lincoln and Halleck didn't send him back to the west as a corps commander. Both Grant and Sherman had high opinions of Pope throughout the war (and, really, for the rest of their lives), and they could have used an aggressive general in an important command. I still see Pope's flaws, but I can also see some of his good qualities too.

This is just the sort of Civil War book I love. It takes a subject that I thought I knew very well and adds layers of complexity. As always, Cozzens displays thorough familiarity with the sources, and his opinions are backed by historical fact. He avoids the common downfall of the biographer, who often becomes too enamored of his subject. Cozzens keeps enough emotional distance between himself and Pope that he can show Pope's flaws as well as merits.

An excellent biography of a truely misunderstood Union Civil War General. Pope is most famous for losing the Battle of 2nd Manasses (called 2nd Bull Run also). He was whipped by Robert E. Lee and ended up being placed in command of the Department of the Northwest (Minnesota, the Dakota's), to fight Indians. He served the military honorably though for over 40 years, and was a good general, simply suffered from having to face Lee, having to deal with McClellan, Halleck, Washington, and being totally unprepared to command an army. Had this man stayed out west he probably would have done some truely great things. It is a shame Lincoln never sent him out west as a Corps commander right after 2nd Manassas, he would have been a huge asset for men like Grant and Sherman, who both liked Pope.

Before reading this book I always had the opinion that Pope was a fool, I was wrong. He was definitely nowhere near Lee or Jackson, but he was one of the best fighting generals the Union had, as his capture of Island # 10 and drive on Corinth proves. He did great things after the war as a department commander as well. He really did live a life for his nation.

Cozzens writes an outstanding biography of this man. He remains very level headed, not showing hatred for Pope or explaining away his mistakes. He makes clear that Pope made huge mistakes at 2nd Manassas, but also shows the reader throughout that Pope was a good man and a loyal soldier who did great things. He was one of the men who actually wanted to help the Indians out West, unlike men such as Sheridan who wanted them exterminated.

Only negative would be that we don't get that much detail on Pope before the Civil War, but you find that with every Civil War biography usually.