Graham..... I am more familiar with Dodge's relationship to the development of the railroad than that of Conner and Pope. I believe that the influence of the exposure to the great potential of the west during the Civil War may have emphasized the vision of opening of the West, that was already there. While Lincoln was a firm believer and supporter of the transcontinental railroad, I don't believe that he deliberately deployed engineers to the western theatre of war for that reason. In fact many Union generals were "exiled" to the west for failures in battle in the east or for political reasons.

If you look at the commanders, say Samuel Curtis, who was also an engineer of note, served in the west but was originally from Iowa. Other commanders in the west, General James G. Blunt, General (Senator) James H. Lane, were appointments from the state of Kansas with political connections or soldier/statesmen such as General Curtis, General Schofield who were expected to reconcile the civil governments of Kansas and Missouri with the military occupation of Missouri.

Thanks,
Howard Mann