William Passmore Carlin (1829-1903) was a native of Illinois who graduated from West Point in 1850 and served on frontier duty and in Utah before the Civil War. Carlin began his Civil War career as colonel of the 38th Illinois Infantry and served in the early battles in Missouri and Mississippi. He commanded troops in the important battles of Perryville, Stones River, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Buzzard Roost, Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, the siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, and Bentonville. A successful brigade and division commander from Perryville to Sherman's March to the Sea...

Union general John Pope was among the most controversial and
misunderstood figures to hold major command during the Civil War.
Before being called east in June 1862 to lead the Army of Virginia against General Robert E. Lee, he compiled an enviable record in Missouri and as commander of the Army of the Mississippi. After his ignominious defeat at the Second Battle of Bull Run, he was sent to the frontier. Over the next twenty-four years Pope held important department commands on the western plains and was recognized as one of the army's leading authorities on Indian affairs, but he...