Union Major General Irwin McDowell was a Mexican-American War veteran. He was also a regular army artillery officer. He knew that in the Mexican-American War, artillery performed well on both the offensive and defensive side of battles. Sometimes artillery in that war had artillery advance in front of an infantry advance. As the US Civil War continued, both sides would see that the best use of artillery was on the defensive side of military operations. With that said, the First Battle of Bull Run was based on many ideas learned from the Mexican-American War. McDowell ordered two of his artillery batteries to advance in front of the Federal infantry to a position too close to Confederate lines. When advancing Rebel troops were mistaken for battery supports, the Union artillerymen allowed the Confederates to advance until the Rebels were able to fire on the artillery within pistol range. The results were a disaster. All the Union artillerymen were shot down and many of the Union horses were killed. Three guns were lost to the Confederates and as the Union retreated, two more guns were captured. The Union captain in charge of artillery was wounded and taken prisoner.
Major General Irwin McDowell knew he would be facing Confederate artillery in the First Battle of Bull Run. He knew the power of artillery especially when used on the defense. His Order No. 17 informed his commanders to not make a frontal assault on Confederate artillery batteries. He was certain that if necessary, they could be successfully taken out of the battle by a flanking maneuver.
battle of bull run
General McDowell—First Battle of Manassas
Irvin McDowell
General Irvin McDowell
Brigadier General Irvin McDowell
The Union commander was General McDowell. The Confederate commander was General Beuregard.
At the Battle of Shiloh, the Confederates first deployed heavy artillery in a meaningful way in the first day of the battle. The Confederate artillery was under the command of General Daniel Ruggles. This was instrumental in reducing the Union position in the so-called Hornet's Nest. This was the largest artillery attack at that time in North America.
General McDowell was the first commanding officer of the Union's Army of the Potomac. Under him the Army lost it's first major battle, the battle of Manassas or Bull Run. He was quickly replaced with General George B. McClellan.
Using terms established by European military theorist Carl Von Clausewitz, a clser look at the significant battle of the first Bull Run did have a culminating point at which the Union forces under General McDowell, had reached their maximum effort. McDowell's culminating point can be said to be on July 21, when Confederates overran McDowell's artillery batteries under the command of Captain James Ricketts. McDowell was then forced to retreat in a panic, heading north from the field of battle.
General Lee had appointed General William N. Pendleton to be in charge of the Confederate artillery at the Battle of Gettysburg. He was one of many pundits who believed that artillery was best used as a defensive element.
General Irwin McDowell.