People

Pope, John

Heir to a politically powerful family from Kaskaskia, Illinois, just south of St. Louis, John Pope graduated from the USMA in 1842 and served in the Mexican War. When the Civil War broke out, Pope was appointed the first union military commander in Northeast Missouri, an area of critical strategic importance in the Summer of 1861.

Pope headed the union force which captured Island No. 10 near New Madrid, Missouri, on April 8, 1862, and this victory catapulted him to national prominence. Tranferred east, Pope assumed command of the Army of Virginia and promptly lost the battle of Second Bull Run (Second Manassas). His career plummeted, and he spent the remainder of the war commanding the Department of Minnesota.

Pope had a successful career in the post-war army, rising to the rank of Major General, and fought a persistent battle – most would say successfully – to clear his name. Upon his retirement he resided in St. Louis, and following his death in 1892 was laid to rest in Bellefontaine Cemetery there.

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