Milwaukee, Wisconsin February 27 63 My dear Sir I have not written to you since I left New York because I really had nothing to write which could have much interested you - I found them all well in St. Louis & my mother looking & feeling better than she has for several years - She, now may hope for a good many more years of life & I need not tell you how great a trial it would be to all her children if she should be taken from us - I suppose of course that you saw James Yeatmen in Washington though I have not heard directly from any of the family there - If Lucretia & Patsy are still with you I hope you will jog their memory on this subject & I think Katy too is a fair subject of lecture about it - I find the whole public mind in the West possessed with the belief that I am to command at Vicksburg and many of the papers are loudly advocating it - The most prominent on the subject are the "Chicago Tribune" & the "Missouri Democrat" both of which I had supposed would have been unfriendly on account of Sigel & Fremont - You know my views on this subject & that I would much regret being forced into prominent & active position under present circumstances - I trust matters may improve in the Administration of the Govt especially of the War Dept of it so that an officer can with good heart & some confidence take his part in this War - At present I am more than content to remain where I am & keep very quiet on the hope that I may be "let alone" - I fear there is not much hope that I shall be permitted to remain here much longer - The town is very pleasant and the people most hospitable & cordial It is hard to realize that one has so many friends among people he has never seen or heard of before - I had designed to stop at Springfield as I came here but thought it best not to do so as the Legislature was in session and my object might have been misconstrued - I receive many letters & I see many more published in the newspapers from the troops at Corinth and Vicksburg expressing the hope that I may be sent down to command, but gratifying as are such exhibitions of confidence & good feeling I do not find myself in the mood to go - I hear from Claire regularly and am very sorry to know that she will be detained in New York much longer than she expected I had hoped she would be able to come out here when you came West but I fear I must be content to wait longer - My duties separate me so much from her that I do not easily content myself under separation from any other cause - You no doubt hear very [4] regularly from her. I should like to hear your views of the condition of affairs as Congress closes its session and if you have leisure I hope you will write me before you leave Washington - I understand in Cincinnati that it was proposed to put you in nomination for Governor - I don't know how you would like this but I think you will not find it easy to be separated from direct participation in public affairs in such times as these - I fear you will find Pomeroy very dull & about intolerable in the midst of the [illegible] which are now transpiring - Please give my love to Mrs Horton & all the others & remember me to my friends whom you may see - I shall hope to hear from you before you leave Washington. Affectionately yours Jno Pope Hon V.B. Horton [docket] Gen John Pope Recd at Washington March 21 1863