John Pope

From Turtledove

John Pope (1822-1892) was a general in the United States Army in the nineteenth century, serving in both the War of Secession and the Second Mexican War. During the latter, Pope brutally put down a Mormon uprising in Utah, setting the stage for a horrifying course of events for the next 60 years.

Soon after the beginning of the War of Secession, Pope was appointed Brigadier General of Volunteers. Subsequently he commanded the Army of the Mississippi during the siege of Corinth, winning a promotion to Major General.

After the collapse of Maj. Gen. George McClellan's Peninsula Campaign in 1862, Pope headed the newly formed Army of Virginia. He brought an attitude of self assurance that was offensive to the eastern soldiers under his command. Despite this assurance, Pope was defeated by Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia in the Battle of Cedar Mountain and the Second Battle of Bull Run. He was relieved of command in September 1862 and his army was merged into the Army of the Potomac. He spent the remainder of the war in the Department of the Northwest in Minnesota, dealing with the Sioux Uprising.

During the Second Mexican War, Pope was given command of US forces occupying Utah, where Mormons had attempted to revolt. Pope introduced draconian policies and hanged a number of Mormon leaders. He also arrested former President Abraham Lincoln on evidence that Lincoln was in sympathy with the Mormons, but was ordered to release him by President James G. Blaine.

Pope was able to work well with his second-in-command for much of his time in Utah, George Armstrong Custer, despite Custer's having served as an aide to Pope's hated rival, George McClellan, during the War of Secession. In fact, his dispaches led to the War Department giving Custer a promotion to Brevet General and command of the defense of Montana from British invasion.

Preceded by A Period of Vacancy Following Albert Sydney Johnston

Military Governor of Utah 1881-????

Succeeded by A Period of Vacancy, Then Alonzo Kent