Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-05-14
GENERAL IRWIN MCDOWELL


best military scholars in the army,
was born on October 18th, 1918, near
Columbus, Ohio, and after q course of
study at the College de Troyes.
France, he entered the Military Acad-
emy at West Point, where he was
graduated on July 1st, 1888, and as
signed to the 1st Artillery as q brevet
second lieutenant. He was stationed
on the Niagara frontier, and when the
difficulties there were over he was
transferred to the 2saine frontier
From 1041 to 1916 he was an adiutant
at West Point, having become a sec
ond lieutenant on July 18th, 1888, and
first lieutenant on October 7th, 1S42.
He went to Mexico in 1S45 as aid-de-
camp to General Wool, and by gal
liant and meritorious conduct at
Buena Vista he won the rank of brevet
captain. May 18th, following, saw him
made assistant adjutant-general, and
on March 31st, 1856, he became a
brevet major and assistant adiutant-
general. In that position the troub-
lous times of 1861 found him. He was
ordered to Washington in February of
that year and served as an Inspector of
troops on General Scotts staff. When
volunteers were called for after the fir
ing on Fort Sumpter, he busted him
self with organizing them into effective
forces until May 14th, when he was
made brigadier- general, and on Nav
18th he was assigned to the command
of the Department of Northeast Nir-
ginia and the defences of Washington
on the Virginia side of the Potomac.
Buena Vista had been his first great
battle. On May 27th, 1861, he was
made commander of the Army of the
Potomac and began a campaign which
was ended at Manassas on July 21st
with his second battle-Bull Run.
Whoever was responsible for the re-
verses of that day, General Mcdowell
bore them with dignity and afterward
stepped into subordinate place and
served Loyalty as a division commander
of its First Corps with the rank of ma
jor-general of volunteers (March 14th,
1862
A month later he had charge of the
Department of the Rappahannock,
| but although the Governmentretaine
full confidence in him, the same i'll for
tune followed him that had marked
his former career, and an accident in
the saddle which kept him helpless
for short time, was followed by the
appointment of General Pope to his
command. On his recovery General
Mcdowell entered, as a subordinate of
Pope, the campaign of August, 1862,
which was fatal to the regulations of
many men. He fought at the bloody
engagement of Cedar Mountain and at
Rappahannock Station, and at the
second Bull Run he suffered, with
other officers, through Pope's incapac-
ity. After Mcclellan rcorganized the
Army of the Potomac General Nc
Dowell held no military command in
the field. Confident of his own integ-
rity, the criticisms made upon him at
the time led General Mcdowell to ask
for court of inquiry, with the under
standing that it should investigate his
conduct in 1862. The court, however,
was overshadowed by the Porter court
and its conclusions were insignificant.
General Mcdowell went in July.
1864, to take command of the Depart
ment of the Pacific Coast in June,
1866, he commanded the Department
of California, in 1868 came to the De-
partment of the East, and in Decem-
Der, 1872, was assigned to the Division
of the South. On March 18th, 1866, he
was breveted major-general ''for gal
liant and meritorious conduct at Cedar
Mountain; on September 1st 1866, he
was mustered out of the volunteer SER
vice; and on November 25th, 1872, he
he became majorgeneral of the Reg
ular Army. He was retired from SER
vice October 18th, 1882, being then
sixty-four years old, and has since lived
in San Francisco
While General Mcdowell was not
popular as a military man. those who
came in close relations with him We're
much attached to him. When he gave
up his command in San Francisco he
had the compliment of a reception
from his officers. He was hospitable
man and used his private means freely
in the entertainment of distinguished
foreigners and citizens. His private
life was irreproachable, and his public
life was marked by dignity and great
faithfulness to duty. He was an
agreeable talker and forcible writer
but he rarely used his pen except when
forced to. He was one of the best ed
ucated officers of th. army, and early
in the war he was the only officer who
could converse we'll in their own
tongue with the French princes who
accompanied the Federal troops.