Let us study the probable line of retreat of our opponents, _and leave our own to take care of itself.
Let us look before, and not behind.

Disaster and shame look in the rear_." The result, as will be seen, furnished a grotesque commentary upon that portion of General Pope's order which we have italicized.

In an address to the army, he added further: "I have come to you from the West, where we have always seen the backs of our enemies--from an army whose business it has been to seek the adversary, and beat him when found--where policy has been attack, and not defence.

I presume I have been called here to pursue the same system." Such was the tenor of General Pope's orders on assuming command--orders which were either intended seriously as an announcement of his real intentions, or as a blind to persuade the Confederates that his force was large.
Unfortunately for the region in which he now came to operate, General Pope did not confine himself to these flourishes of rhetoric.

He proceeded to inaugurate a military policy in vivid contrast to General McClellan's.