The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-05-16

few turbulent weeks of high command,
with immense responsibilities and soul
wearing problems, that he was abso-
lutely unified to cope with, conferred
sanguine expectations upon him, and
then held him bitterly blamable for
the singing and humiliating result.
Absolutely all that could be made out
OF the material in Irwin Mcdowell was
q hrst-clasS staff officer, without orig
fnality. initiative or adaptability-one
that would know every detail of regu-
lations and routine by heart, perform
them scrupuiously himself. and insist
upon like observance by those with
whom he came in contact.
Up to his limitations Mcdowell was
an ideal soldier. Unfortunately, neither
he nor those about him recognized his
limitations, as was sadly true about a
host of other good soldiers who were
prest forward beyond their powers, to
their own humiliation and the great
damage Of the country.
Mcdowell was of that Scotch-Irish
strain which played SO large a part in
the war on both sides. His father
had been a soldier. and was a man OF
more pride and dignity than means,
and with a taste for liquor which blight
ed his life. Probably the latter made his
son the most rigid Of abstainers, so
that he never drank even tea or cof-
zee. The son was given q good educa-
ton, partially in France, and then en-
tered West Point, whence he gradual
ed in 1898, far down in a class which
was headed by VIM. n. Shower, who
died a Captain of Artillery in 1850.
P. G. T. Beauregard was graduated
second in that class. Irwin Mcdowell
was as low down as the twenty-third.
But between these noted names was
but one which the country now recog-
nizes-that of William F. Barry, the
able Chief Of Artillery to the Army of
the Potomac in its early history; while
three places below Mcdowell was Will
liam ]. Hardee. and two below him
was r. s. Granger. Fellow-students
Braxton Bragg, Jubal Early, e. D.
Townsend, d. H. Hill, William H.
French. John Sedgwick. John c. Penn
berton. Joseph Hooker and William H.
T. Walker, Of the class above, and
Henry w. Halleck, e. o. C. Ord, e.
r. s. Candy. William T. Sherman, Geo.
H. Thomas. r. s. Ewell and H. G.
Wright Of those below him. Among
these are some of the most noted lead
ers on both sides in the war Of the
rebellion.
On his graduation young Mcdowell
was at once assigned to the artillery
and ordered on duty on the Niagara
frontier, where the patriot difficult
ties were then exciting apprehensions.
These settled, he was next ordered to
the northeastern boundary. during the
progress Of the controversy with Great
Britain IS to the disputed territory. A
short interval Of recruiting duty fol-
lowed; then ne was again on the
Maine frontier; finally. in 1841, he was
sent back to West Point as Assistant
Instructor In Infantry Tactics. Here
he remained for the next four years
one year teaching infantry tactics and
the other three serving as Adjutant Of
the Academy. Then he came into de-
mand as a valuable staff officer, with
commanders eager to get him. He
was on Gen. SCOTS staff for two years
until 1851: then successfully on those
Of Gems Wool. Clarke, Twiggs and Al
bert Sidney Johnston, with intervals Of
returning to the staff Of Gen Scott.
He was on Woops staff in the Mexican
War, and won brevet for gallantry at
Buena Vista.
The beginning of the war found Maj.
Mcdowell on duty at Columbus, O., an
agreeable post. since he was connected
by marriage with William Dennison,
Governor Of the State. He was also
closely intimate with Salmon P. Chase,
The Secretary OF the Treasury. At that
time Mcdowell was in his 43d year.
tall. erect. with q decidedly soldierly
barring. He was polished. courteous
and reserved. but those who penetrat-