Pope’s first act as commander of the newly designated Army of Virginia was to issue an address to his troops. He did nothing to diminish his reputation for braggadocio in this singularly inept document. “I come to you out of the West, where we have always seen the backs of our enemies,” he declared. “I am sorry to find so much in vogue amongst you . . . certain phrases [like] . . . ‘lines of retreat,’ and ‘bases of supplies.’ . . . Let us study the probable lines of retreat of our opponents, and leave our own to take care of themselves. Let us look before us and not behind. Success and glory
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