POPE, JOHN (1822-1892), American soldier, was born at Louisville, Ky., on March 16, 1822. He graduated at the United States military academy in 1842 and was assigned to the engineers. He served in the Mexican War, subsequently engaged in engineer ing and exploring work, and was commissioned captain in 1856. Early in the Civil War he was placed, as a brigadier general U.S.V., in charge of the district of Missouri, which by vigorous cam paigning against guerrilla bands he quickly reduced to order. In 1862, along with the gunboat flotilla (commanded by Commodore A. H. Foote) on the Mississippi, Pope obtained a great success by the capture of the defences of New Madrid and Island No. io, with nearly 7,000 prisoners. Pope subsequently joined Halleck, and in command of the Army of the Mississippi took part in the siege of Corinth. He was now a major general (U.S.V.). The reputation he had thus gained as an energetic leader quickly placed him in a high command, to which he proved to be quite unequal. The "Army of Virginia," as his new forces were styled, had but a brief career. At the very outset of his Virginian campaign Pope, by a
most ill-advised order, in which he contrasted the performances of the western troops with the failures of the troops in Virginia, for feited the confidence of his officers and men. The feeling of the Army of the Potomac (which was ordered to his support) was equally hostile, and the short operations culminated in the disas trous defeat of the second battle of Bull Run. Pope was soon compelled to realize the impossibility of retrieving his position, and resigned the command. Later, in command of the depart ment of the North-West, he showed his former skill and vigour in dealing with Indian risings. In 1882 he was promoted to the full rank of major general, U.S. army. He died at Sandusky, 0., on Sept. 23, 1892.
He was the author of various works and papers, including railway reports (Pacific Railroad Reports vol. iii.) and The Campaign of Virginia (Washington, 1865).