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Birth
McDowell born in Columbus, Ohio to Abram Irvin McDowell and Eliza Seldon McDowell. -
Graduation
Graduated from United States Military Academy but first attended the College de Toyes in France. Approximated day and month. -
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Early Career
McDowell was posted to the 1st Us Artillery as a 2nd lieutenant. He served as a tactics instructor at West Point. In the Mexican American War McDowell was an aide-de-camp to General John E. Wool.
On May 31, 1856 he was promoted to Major. Exact date. -
Promotion to Commander of the Army of Northeastern Virginia
Despite having no battle time commanding experience McDowel was made the commander of the Union army of Northeastern Virginia. -
Move out
Due to political pressure McDowell begans to march his troops out of Washington towards the first battle of the war. -
The 1st Battle of Bull Run begans
The Battle of Bull Run started with both generals trying to outflank the other’s left. The Union started by shelling the rebels across Bull Run while slowing moving to attack the Confederate left flank. Believing this only a distraction the Confederate General Beauregard sent a small group to handle it and sent a larger group to do a flanking movement of his own. Faults in McDowell’s plan was it was too complicated and required lots of synchronization between his units. -
Late in the Afternoon in the 1st Battle of Bull Run
In the late afternoon the tide of the battle turned with the arrival of Confederate reinforcments. Before this the Union was winning. These reinforcements broke the Union’s right side and Colonel Jeb Stuart delivered the finishing stroke by charging with his cavalry. This caused a massive and panicked Union retreat. -
McDowell is Replaced
McDowell was demoted and Gen. George B. McClellan replaced him as commander. -
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McDowell's command of the I Corps
McDowell received a division in this new Army of the Potomac but then got command of its I Corps. However his men were stuck defending Washington and kept there by nervous politicians during Peninsula Campaign. -
The Army of Virginia
McDowell’s corps combined with others to form a new Army of Virginia under the command of Major General John Pope. McDowell led the III Corps in this army. Pope deployed his army in an arc across Virginia and McDowell formed the left flank. -
Battle of Ceder Run
The Battle of Cedar Mountain in the Union’s favor in the beginning but at about 7:00 pm the Union army was pushed from the field by a Confederate counterattack. This involved the central and right parts of Pope’s army arc, but McDowell’s troops arrived to cover the Union retreat. Here McDowell was promoted without a pay raise to the rank of Major General. -
The 2nd Battle of Bull Run begins
There was fighting for several hours at Brawner Farm when Confederate general Jackson attacked Pope’s army. It resulted in a stalemate. Pope made several wrong assumptions here, one about the position of McDowell relative to the Confederate force. -
Day 2 of the 2nd Battle of Bull Run
Pope launched a series of attacks on Jackson’s line throughout the day and each one was repulsed. In this battle there were several elements of McDowell’s III corps fighting. General Longstreet arrived at noon and reinforced the Confederate right flank. -
Where McDowell was on Day 2 of the 2nd Battle of Bull Run
Where McDowell was on this day was marching toward the battle along Manassas-Gainesville road with General Porter. Early in the day McDowell had heard reports of Longstreet’s reinforcements marching towards the battle. However this was not relayed to Pope until almost 12 hours later. This as well as an incredibly unclear joint order had Pope believeing McDowell and Porter were attacking the Confederate's right flank and Longstreet was not on the field. -
8:00 a.m. Day 3 of the 2nd Battle of Bull Run
Pope was convinced that the Confederate army was in retreat despite several different reports to the contrary. However McDowell’s own personal reconnaissance was mistaken and in line with Pope’s belief and Pope made up his mind to attack once more. -
Around noon Day 3 of the 2nd Battle of Bull Run
Porter was ordered to attack despite the disadvantage of the rebels having the high ground. McDowell worried about Porter’s situation and made the worst tactical decision of the day and sent a division to support Porter’s withdraw. -
4:00 p.m. Day 3 of the 2nd Battle of Bull Run
A Confederates assault was aimed at the key terrain of Henry House hill, and this aligned with spot where Porter’s reinforcements had come from. McDowell and Pope quickly sent reinforcements to keep the Confederates from that ground. The rebels withstood the Union reinforcements but they did not gain the hill. After this the Unition army retreated. -
General Porter Court Martialed
General Porter was arrested and court martialed due to his actions at the 2nd battle of Bull Run, He acted as a scapegoat for Pope. McDowell testified against Porter to escape blame as well. -
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McDowell's Exile from Command
Despite escaping blame for the defeat at the 2nd Battle of Bull Run McDowell spent the following 2 years in exile from military command. -
McDowell given Command of the Deparment of the Pacific
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McDowell recieved permanent rank of Maj. Gen.
McDowell gets the permanent rank of Maj. General. Approximated day and month. -
Porter is Pardoned from Court Martial
Porter is pardoned from his court martial and some of the blame for the 2nd battle of Bull Run is levied against McDowell. Approximated day and month. -
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Retirement from the Army to Death
January 1, 1882 McDowell retired from the military and worked as the Park Commissioner of San Francisco until he died. This is the approximated day and month of his retirement. May 4,1885 McDowell died at 66 years of age.
