George H. Gordon, From Brook Farm to Cedar Mountain

[315] minutes before I came upon them. General Pope briefly inquired of me as to the condition of my command. “I do not think I have now,” I said, “more than three or four hundred troops together; we have been very much cut up.”

“General Gordon,” Pope replied, “you will move, as soon as relieved, to the right of the pike and form the centre of a new line of battle. I don't expect much of your troops to-morrow, but you will make a show, and can support a battery. You will not have much to do. I shall have twenty thousand fresh troops to-morrow morning.”

This was the first appearance of the major-general commanding the Army of Virginia upon the disastrous battlefield of Cedar Mountain. He had come, when disaster could not be averted, to talk of his twenty thousand fresh troops, all of whom had been available to give us the victory,--at least, to save us from defeat; he had come to propose supporting a battery with my brigade on the morrow, and I was angry withal. In an instant I rejoined, “General Pope, this battle should not have been fought, sir.” To which Pope as promptly replied, “I never ordered it fought, sir.” And to this General Banks made no reply, no retort or remonstrance, though he was standing by Pope's side.

Then turning to Banks, full of indignation at the crime, the blunder, of the battle, I exclaimed, “General Banks, I disobeyed your order received during the fight.”

“ What was it, sir,” replied Banks.

“An order brought by an officer, purporting to come from you, to charge across the field where my troops were then fighting.”

“I never sent you such an order,” retorted Banks.

“I am glad to know it,” I replied; “it would have resuited in our total destruction.”

So important an order, and so direct a denial, demand