The National tribune., 1892-04-14


divers and sundry occasions, when the truth
WAS Gen. Mcdowell never drank anything
stronger than milk, not even tea coffee, a
fact that every one who knew him was cogni-
zant Of The bosom friend of Secretary Chase
and trusted and honored friend of Lincoln, a
traitor! Bah 1t makes one acquainted with
the sterling old patriot tired to hear a lot of
grapevine twaddle aud wagon train tales pro-
duced to prove he was disloyal
Mcdowell did wear a hat-that is, in very
warm weather,-and herein is the mares nest
This hat was a can vass, covered cork hat which
since that time has become quite common, but
in 1862 many men in the army, from the rural
districts especially, had never seen one and
seeing it on McDowelrs head, and not know.
ing what it was. or that Mcdowell wore it as a
protection, being a very large man and quite
sensitive to the heat, they at once started the
story.
The idiocy Of the charge fof the hat) is rec.
ogniZcd when y0u remember that a man
dressed in scarlet, with white plumes and
known to every man in the enemy's camps
would be just as liable to be killed in battle
| as officer wearing the regulation uniform,
with the coat buttoned to the chin, rs Mcdowell
always wore his.
Mcdowell was Regular Army officer of the
strict discpiinarian school. A brave, honest,
honorable man, with as much of the milk of
human kindness in his body as any man ever
knew, and would no more think OF allowing one
of his officers or men to abnse a dumb animal
than he would have suffered one of his officers
or men to be abused or suffered abuse to his own
person. But he never "labored for effect"
he knew his duty and performed it without
question, and he expected Others to do the
same. He never considered it his business
when discharging an unpleasant duty, by obey
ing the orders Of his superiOrS to inform his
command that the order was not his own No.
To-, MaTl y.n ,,nl,,
lie was big man, too.
/ was with him at the battle Of Slaughter
Mount:tiu. and saw him perform an act that
had some Little Mac" or n leader of a politi-
cal brigade performed, would have been handed
down in song and story to future generations.
1t was when the rebel battery in the road,
close to our lines, at the edge of the wood, uu-
der cover of the darkness, opened its murder
Gus fire, that Il German battery stampeded aud
started for the rear On a dead run, the drivers
plying whip and spur with all the energy Of
men of that kind when panic-strcl.cn. Nc
Dowcll, who fortunately was near, took in the
situation at n glance. The reserves were COM
ing up, or were in line in rear. That battery
il allowed to proceed just then, when n rebel
battery was filling the air with its death deal
Ing missiles from point where our line was
supposed to be, was liable to create stampede
| that would prove disastrous. Mcdowell drove
| the spurs into his horse, drew his sword and
| in language which the drivers understood,
halted that battery in less time than it takes
to tell it, and put them into position when
| they stopped.
/ with him every hour he spent in the
saddle on Pope's retreat; rode with him the
| night he visited Fitz John Porter, and tried to
! persuade that arch traitor to cooperate with
him and obey Pope's orders.
After Mcdowell was relieved, I was with
Hooker at Antietam, Pleasonton at Gcttys-
burg, Stoncman on his famous raid around
Lees army. Then as a member Of the First
Brigade OF Clusters Division, participated in
every battle in which my division was en-
gagcd tunder Sherdan) in the Valley. Xii
patrick was promoted from our regiment; so
was Maj-Gen. Ill. Z. Davies and Gen. Dulfie
besides four others, and when say Gen Irwin
Mcdowell was rs brave and honest man rs
] ever knew-knowng Fitzpatrick, Davies,
Hooker PleasOnton. Stoneman. Custer, and
Shcridan-you may form some idea of the esti-
nation / formed Of Gen. Mcdowell, and the es.
TEEN with which / revere his memory / was
never indebted TO Gen. Mcdowell for anything
bat his good example, and my estimation OF
him was not formed by giving credence to
grapevine kilograms wagon train tales
G. i. MARVIN, I'd N. Y. (Harris Light Cav.),
Franklin Ind.