Why was General John Pope's Headquarters where his Hindquarters should have been? Despite being a liar and "braggart", why did Lincoln promote General John Pope as Commander of the Union Army? BONUS: Define "braggart"? Why did Lincoln re-appoint General George B. McClellan as Commander of the Union Army? Abraham Lincoln said, "God cannot be for and against the same thing at the same time." What did Lincoln mean? Abraham Lincoln said, "If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that." What did Lincoln mean? Did Europe side with the Union or the Confederacy? Why?