McDowell, Irwin

Irwin MacDowell was born in Columbus, Ohio, but was educated in France. Returning to his homeland, he entered the Military Academy at West Point . He finished it 23rd in academic performance in the 1838 graduation and was sent to the 1st artillery regiment in the temporary rank of second lieutenant (After 7 days, his temporary rank became permanent). It is noteworthy that one of McDowell's classmates was Pierre Beauregard , his future opponent in the First Battle of Bull Run ^[3] .

After serving three years at the frontier, MacDowell returned to West Point and from 1841 to 1845 taught infantry tactics there. October 7, 1842 received the rank of first lieutenant . When the war with Mexico began , he became an adjutant under General John Wool and was temporarily promoted to the rank of captain for his courage in the battle of Buena Vista . In May 1847, McDowell was transferred to staff work and before the outbreak of the Civil War he served in various headquarters and departments. In 1856 he received the temporary rank of Major ^[3] .

When the Civil War broke out , MacDowell was promoted to Brigadier General of the Volunteer Army (May 14, 1861) and appointed Army Commander of Northeast Virginia, although he had never commanded troops before. He received this appointment not without the patronage of his mentor, then Secretary of the Treasury of the United States. MacDowell was well aware that his army was inexperienced and not ready for serious hostilities, but the US leadership, including President Abraham Lincoln , demanded that he immediately attack the capital of the Confederation , the city of Richmond . This hasty attack ended in the Battle of Bull Run , in which his unprepared troops were unable to carry out their tasks effectively, which ultimately led to the shameful flight of his entire army from the battlefield.

After the defeat at Bull Run, the US Government organized a new army under the command of General McClellan to defend Washington . MacDowell commanded one of the divisions in this army, but was soon promoted and received the whole corps. His corps remained in the rear to defend Washington, and it was assumed that he was to come to the rescue of the main forces of McClellan's army at a crucial moment. However, the US leadership did not dare to drop its 40,000 soldiers into battle, fearing to leave Washington defenseless.

On May 14, 1862, McDowell received the rank of Major General of the Volunteer Army .

In the summer of 1862, three separate corps of Generals MacDowell, Fremont, and Banks were united into the Virginia Army under the command of Major General John Pope . In August of that year, this army was defeated by the Southerners in the Second Battle of Bull Run and MacDowell became one of the main accused of defeat. He managed to evade responsibility, blaming all his part of the blame on Fitz-John Porter , who was subsequently sent to court for failure to comply with the order. But, despite formal innocence, MacDowell was removed from command of the troops until the very end of the war.

In July 1864, he was appointed commander of the Pacific Military District. He subsequently commanded the California Military District and the Western Military District. November 25, 1872 he received the rank of major general of the regular army, and in 1882 he resigned. He held civilian posts in San Francisco , where he died in 1885.

• Register of Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy Class of 1838
• North America. 19th Century. Personalities.
• Biography in English
• McDowell's grave on Find-A-Grave