He commanded the losing Union forces.
General McDowell—First Battle of Manassas
General Irvin McDowell
Where was the first battle civil war fought at
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.
General Irwin McDowell.
Irvin McDowell
The tactical plan of battle that General McDowell planned to use at the first Battle of Bull Run was one called a "turning" maneuver. The idea was to use part of his forces in an attempt to outflank the Confederate forces. This plan was approved by General Winfield Scott.
When Union Major General Irvin McDowell was planning for what would be called the First Battle of Bull Run, he chose an ironic location for his headquarters. The former home of Colonel Robert E. Lee would be home to McDowell's military planning.
The unfortunate General who was commanding the Army of the Potomac in the first months of the war, when the press and politicians were calling for some action. McDowell knew his army was not ready for combat, but he was pushed into it, and lost the First Battle of Bull Run.
Major General Irwin McDowell was a Union general, commanding US forces in the first major battle of the war, at First Manassas, where he was defeated by the Confederates under Joe Johnston and PTG Beauregard.
The Union Army under General Irving McDowell was the attacking army at the First Battle of Bull Run also known as Manassas.
Union General Irvin McDowell graduated from West Point in 1938. He ranked twenty third in a graduating class of 45 cadets. McDowell is most famous for his role in the first Battle of Bull Run. He and General Scott had cautioned Lincoln that US troops were not ready for a battle at that time. Both men believed that the volunteers lacked the training to fight a large battle.