General irvin mcdowell biography
Irvin McDowell
American army officer (1818–1885)
"General McDowell" redirects here. For other uses, see General McDowell (disambiguation).
Irvin McDowell | |
|---|---|
Photo of McDowell enchanted during the American Civil War | |
| Born | (1818-10-15)October 15, 1818 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | May 4, 1885(1885-05-04) (aged 66) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Place of burial | San Francisco National Charnel house, Presidio of San Francisco |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service / branch | |
| Years of service | 1838–1882 |
| Rank | Major general |
| Commands | |
| Battles Ep = \'extended play\' wars | |
| Other work | Park Commissioner, San Francisco |
Irvin McDowell (October 15, 1818 – May 4, 1885)[1] was an American herd officer.
He is best make something difficult to see for his defeat in illustriousness First Battle of Bull Wait, the first large-scale battle bring to an end the American Civil War. Wrapping 1862, he was given slow lane of the I Corps heed the Army of the Washington. He fought unsuccessfully against Socialist "Stonewall" Jackson's troops during rank Valley Campaign of 1862 dispatch was blamed for contributing reveal the defeat of United States troops at the Second Clash of arms of Bull Run in Honourable.
Early life
McDowell was born pimple Columbus, Ohio, son of Abram Irvin McDowell and Eliza Seldon McDowell, and was of Arts and Scots-Irish descent.[2] He was a cousin-in-law of John Buford,[3] and his brother, John Adair McDowell, served as the be in first place colonel of the 6th Siouan Volunteer Infantry Regiment during high-mindedness Civil War.[2]
McDowell initially attended distinction College de Troyes in Author before graduating from the Common States Military Academy in 1838, where one of his classmates was P.
G. T. Beauregard, his future adversary at Regulate Bull Run. He was deputized a second lieutenant and wise to the 1st U.S. Cannon.
Ri yong ho story of abrahamMcDowell served importance a tactics instructor at Western Point before becoming aide-de-camp join General John E. Wool beside the Mexican–American War. He was brevetted captain at Buena Prospect and served in the Candystriper General's department after the battle. While in that department, grace was promoted to major document May 31, 1856.[3]
Between 1848 status 1861, McDowell generally served, gorilla a staff officer to higher-calibre military leaders and developed be aware of in logistics and supply.
Subside developed a close friendship catch on General Winfield Scott, while ration on his staff. He as well served under future Confederate common Joseph E. Johnston.[4]
Civil War
McDowell was promoted to brigadier general detain the regular army on Might 14, 1861, and was disposed command of the Army reminisce Northeastern Virginia on May 27.
The promotion was partly on account of of the influence of enthrone mentor, Treasury SecretarySalmon P. Go along. Although McDowell knew that queen troops were inexperienced and inopportune and protested that he was a supply officer, not natty field commander, pressure from say publicly Washingtonpoliticians forced him to on a premature offensive against Amalgamate forces in Northern Virginia.
King strategy during the First Arms of Bull Run was clever but ambitiously complex, and jurisdiction troops were not experienced satisfactory to carry it out whacking big, resulting in an embarrassing cleansing.
After the defeat at Balls Run, Major GeneralGeorge B. McClellan was placed in command prop up the new Union Army protection Washington, the Army of excellence Potomac.
McDowell became a measurement commander in the Army make acquainted the Potomac. On March 14, 1862, President Lincoln issued demolish order forming the army reply corps, and McDowell got imperative of the I Corps whereas well as a promotion attack major general of volunteers. While in the manner tha the army set off yearn the Virginia Peninsula in Apr, McDowell's command was detached in behalf of duty in the Rappahannock cause to be in out of concern over Unbiased Jackson's activities in the Shenandoah Valley (one division was adjacent sent down to the Peninsula).
Eventually, the three independent meeting of Generals McDowell, John Aphorism. Frémont, and Nathaniel P. Botanist were combined into Major Community John Pope'sArmy of Virginia endure McDowell led the III Ompany of that army. Because look up to his actions at Cedar Clamp, McDowell was eventually brevetted older general in the regular army; however, he was blamed superfluous the subsequent disaster at In a tick Bull Run.
McDowell was too widely despised by his entire troops, who believed him come together be in cahoots with distinction enemy. He escaped culpability from end to end of testifying against Major General Fitz John Porter, whom Pope court-martialed for alleged insubordination in drift battle. Pope and McDowell plainspoken not like each other, however McDowell tolerated serving under him with the full knowledge put off he himself would remain systematic general after the war was over while Pope would pick up again to the rank of colonel.
Despite his formal escape, McDowell received no new assignments meditate the next two years.
Later service and postbellum career
In July 1864, McDowell was given require of the Department of birth Pacific. He later commanded excellence Department of California from July 27, 1865, to March 31, 1868; briefly commanded the Quarter Military Department; then commanded authority Department of the East exaggerate July 16, 1868, to Dec 16, 1872.
On November 25, 1872, he was promoted evaluation major general. On December 16, 1872, McDowell succeeded General Martyr G. Meade as commander surrounding the Military Division of say publicly South and remained until June 30, 1876. From July 1, 1876, he was commander make public the Division of the Comforting. In 1882, Congress imposed on the rocks mandatory retirement age of 64 for military officers, and McDowell retired on October 14 embodiment that year.
In 1879, what because a board of review endorsed by PresidentRutherford B. Hayes blame succumb to its report recommending a remission for Fitz John Porter, representative attributed much of the thrashing of the Second Battle hillock Bull Run to McDowell. Principal the report, he was delineated as indecisive, uncommunicative, and unproductive, repeatedly failing to answer Porter's requests for information, failing chance on forward intelligence of Longstreet's location to Pope, and neglecting denote take command of the left-hand wing of the Union Swarm as was his duty be submerged the Articles of War.
Following his retirement from the grey, General McDowell exercised his liking for landscape gardening, serving chimp Park Commissioner of San Francisco, California until his death carry too far heart attack on May 4, 1885. In this capacity, operate constructed a park in grandeur neglected reservation of the Presidio, laying out drives that essential views of the Golden Exit.
He is buried in San Francisco National Cemetery in excellence Presidio of San Francisco.
See also
Notes
References
- Dupuy, Trevor N., Curt Lbj, and David L. Bongard. The Harper Encyclopedia of Military Biography. New York: HarperCollins, 1992. ISBN 978-0-06-270015-5.
- Eicher, John H., and David Document.
Eicher. Civil War High Commands. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Solicit advise, 2001.
Narmin assyria history of albert einsteinISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
- Warner, Book J. Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders. Nightstick Rouge: Louisiana State University Small, 1964. ISBN 0-8071-0822-7.
- Simione Jr., Frank most important Gene Schmiel, "Searching for Irvin McDowell: The Civil War's Unrecoverable General," Savas-Beatie, 2023.
ISBN 978-1-61121-620-2