McDowell, Irvin (1818-1885), was a Union general in the American Civil War (1861-1865). He commanded the Union troops at the war’s first major land battle, the First Battle of Bull Run (or First Battle of Manassas), in Virginia. The Confederates defeated McDowell’s forces at that battle, but McDowell went on to hold a number of important military positions.
McDowell was born on Oct. 15, 1818, in Columbus, Ohio. He studied at the College de Troyes in France before graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1838. McDowell then served as a tactics instructor at the academy. After fighting in the Mexican War (1846-1848), McDowell served as a staff officer at the U.S. Army headquarters in Washington, D.C.
In May 1861, shortly after the start of the Civil War, McDowell was promoted to brigadier general. He was chosen to train and command troops near Washington, D.C. On July 21, Confederate Generals Pierre G. T. Beauregard and Joseph E. Johnston led their troops to victory against McDowell’s army at the First Battle of Bull Run. After the battle, President Abraham Lincoln replaced McDowell with General George B. McClellan. McDowell then became a corps commander in McClellan’s army. He was later promoted to major general of the volunteer army in March 1862.
In the summer of 1862, McDowell’s troops were left behind to protect Washington, D.C., during McClellan’s peninsular campaign. In this campaign, McClellan landed troops on the peninsula between the York and James rivers in Virginia and attempted to capture Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital. In August 1862, McDowell served under General John Pope at the Second Battle of Bull Run, which the Confederates won. McDowell shared the blame for the defeat and was relieved of command. Even though a court cleared McDowell of any wrongdoing at the battle, he never again would have a field command during the Civil War.
In July 1864, McDowell took command of the Department of the Pacific, the Army department in charge of military affairs in the western United States. After the Civil War, he commanded military departments in the West and South. In 1872, McDowell was promoted to major general of the U.S. Regular Army. He retired from the Army in 1882 and later became park commissioner of San Francisco. He died in San Francisco on May 4, 1885.
See also Bull Run, Battles of ; Civil War, American .
