had no headquarters but in the saddle.”  He was continually sending dispatches to his chief, General Halleck, who had been appointed Commander-in-Chief of all the Federal forces in the field, of the “victories gained over Lee,” his “bloody repulses of Jackson,” and “successful advances,” and “the Confederates on the run,” etc., etc., while the very opposites were the facts.  On one occasion he telegraphed to Washington that he had defeated Lee, that the Confederate leader was in full retreat to Richmond, when, as a fact, before the dispatch had reached its destination his own army was overwhelmed, and with Pope at its head, flying the field in every direction, seeking safety under the guns at Washington.  It is little wonder he bore the name he had so deservedly won by his manifestoes, “Pope the Braggart.”

About the middle of July Jackson, with Ewell and A.P.  Hill, was sent up to the Rapidan to look after Pope and his wonderful army, which had begun to be re-enforced by troops from the James.  On the 9th of August Jackson came up with a part of Pope’s army at Cedar Mountain, and a fierce battle was fought, very favorable to the Confederate side.  A month after Jackson had left Richmond, Longstreet, with three divisions, headed by Lee in person, was ordered to re-enforce Jackson, and began the offensive.  While the Federal commander was lying securely in his camp, between the Rappahannock and the Rapidan, unconscious of the near approach of the Confederate Army, his scouts intercepted an order written by General Lee to his cavalry leader, giving details of his intended advance and attack.  Pope, being thus apprised, hurriedly recrossed the Rappahannock and concentrated his forces behind that stream.  Lee followed his movements closely, and while watching in front, with a portion of his army, he started Jackson on his famous march around the enemy’s rear.  Pulling up at night, Jackson marched to the left, crossed the Rappahannock on the 25th, and by the night of the 26th he had reached the railroad immediately in Pope’s rear, capturing trains of cars, prisoners, etc.  On learning that large quantities of provisions and munitions of war were stored at Manassas Junction, feebly guarded, General Trimble, with a small number of brave Alabamians, Georgians, and North Carolinians, not five hundred all told, volunteered to march still further to that point, a distance of some miles, notwithstanding they had marched with Jackson thirty miles during the day, and capture the place.  This was done in good time, defeating a brigade doing guard duty, and capturing a large number of prisoners, one entire battery of artillery, and untold quantities of provisions.  Jackson now appeared to retreat, but only withdrew in order to give Longstreet time to come up, which he was doing hard upon Jackson’s track, but more than twenty-four hours behind.  This was one of the most hazardous feats accomplished by Lee during the war, with the possible exception of Chancellorsville, “dividing his army in the face of superior numbers,” a movement denounced by all successful Generals and scientists of war.  But Lee attempted this on more occasions than one, and always successfully.