The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-07-21
Bull Run-Jusiice TO Gen. Irwin Mcdowell.

Nine years after this battle has happened we
begin 10 feel that we walk upon the solid ground in
eslimAd dag its heroes and its Importance.
In the first place we have learned TO estimate the
character OF Mcdowell, who planned this battle
with cool wise head, and fought 1t out upon this
plan sccordinE to the best advantage he could make
o. the material that lay Mt his command, No other
battle during the whole war was better devised, ana
none IN the East, fought upon the offensive, during
the next three years had more nearly been success
full. The Federal commander was assaied Tor the
folly OF his troops here M Jew commanders have
ever been, and yet he kept up heart, stood patiently
Ian with generous resignation and gave all the sue.
cessive men place over him hearty support aud
sin the death OF George H. Thomas, II Is safe to
aay that there Is man In the United States upon
whom We rely for judgment, for devotion, Tor win.
suffered then, more Than Irwin Mcdowell.
Last winter, when tae Army OF the Potomac met
at Philadelphia, and Mcdowell sat quietly among
them, thinking himself an unsuccessful man anC one
set down among the failures or the war, quiet
young oficer arose with his glass In his hand and
proposed tie health OF Gen. Mcdowell, As he did
So he made a siamuernG effort to say that since the
war had passed by, and We had come TO know man
for man and man TO man. we were equal to the ap,
probation OF the commander OF the hrst Army OF
the Potomac. At once the whole table ratified with
braves and hearty cheers, and amidst more applause
than had greeted the name OF any man that might,
Mcdowell rose. profoundly moved, the most patient
and heroic MARTYR OF the war, and lac said as lie had
always said that he knew the justice OF his country
men would come at last that he had expected il
ong before but that be had not complained because
lie knew that II would come and then his cold
he gave q little burst OF egotism, which was trueI
tIan tears because IL was both the occasion and
himself There are more men who fought In The
Army OF The Potomac who would enlist under Nc
DOwsll to-day than under any general conmanuei
which the war in the East turned ont Ills grea'
element OF character was resignation, never mutiny
I'M never abusing any man behind his back, Gliding
to the cause at the expense OF irightlnl ealnmhe'
hcaped upon himself and II Is probable that his lame
will grow hercciorward as Toundly M, during the
war, Il was suddenly ohscured.
Al tho battle OF Cedar Mountain, there were
a thousand men who would have shot mcdowell II
ls tracks II they dared for not coming TO tue rene
| Of Banks, and Gelry, now Governor OF rem
sylyania, denoupce bin, as he (Gearyl eat up In bee
with a wounded arm. On that occasion, AZ every
where. Mcdowell was u man without oslentatloh
| with q hard military education, and he would no
move until he had orders which he never got IL u
well for us, who live under popular goyernmen
and can say what please Of Che high and the low
to have lived long enough 10 be able to read or writ
Alright the life and services oil this man. The justice
| Of reDabiics GROVE slowly, but IL grows. NO
| among the least Of tie probabilities Ia this, tia
| the rational reaction for Mcdowell will expand un
| ill., II military men TO be hereafter considered TO
| high civil places nobody viii have better Iigh
snan he 10 b. named among men for the Chile
hsgistrAsy.