Irvin McDowell

General McDowell

(1818-1885)

Irvin McDowell was involved in so many of the Civil War’s greatest battles, however he did not leave a stellar mark. From fighting in the battles of Bull Run and seven other battles during the Civil War, General McDowell saw plenty of action. Tactical instructions were the name of his game and he did very well at outsmarting many of his Rebel adversaries in Cedar Mountain and the Shenandoah Valley. It was the Battle of Bull Run that shook the foundations of an otherwise decent military career.

Born in Ohio and educated in France, Irvin McDowell was a very intelligent, leader from the start. Graduating from West Point in 1838, the leader-to-be was seen as a go-getter. Going after what he desired was the main force that drove McDowell's life and career as a Civil War leader. Before resigning from the US Army, McDowell taught tactical maneuvers for four years. The stage was set for the man from Ohio to lead his men into battle in the Civil War.

The first action McDowell was to see in the war was as the commander of the residential forces that protected Washington D.C. Given the command of fresh new recruits; General McDowell was ordered to fight at the First Battle of Bull Run. The battle was a massacre for the Union army and McDowell retreated after receiving losses equaling 50% of his entire troop strength. The loss sent a clear message to the Union army and that message was that General McDowell might not be the one to lead them to ultimate victory. The losses were piling up and the General needed a win to prop up his tactical superiority.

Four long days after the loss at Bull Run, McDowell gathered his remaining troops and set out for the Shenandoah Valley. The Southern commander Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson had amassed a large army there and it was up to McDowell and the remnants of his Corps to fend them off. After the battle of Manassas and others in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign along with McClellan, the general was ordered to go into Cedar Mountain.

Here he would give a good showing and be a major reason that the Union forces won there. Unfortunately for McDowell this was not enough. He was officially blamed for the defeat at Bull Run. Irving McDowell would not take the blame laying down and in 1865, the embattled general petitioned the high court for a hearing. Cleared of culpability, the general was given command for the last time as leader of the Pacific Coast Army.

General Irving McDowell was relieved of his command at Pacific Coast in 1866. Retiring back to his home state of Ohio, the general would be found dead in his home in 1885.

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