The West Point Boys - Irvin McDowell

Irvin McDowell was born in Columbus, Ohio on October 15th, 1818. He attended the college in France before graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1838. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and posted to the 1st U.S. Artillery. McDowell served as a tactics instructor at West Point, before becoming an aide to General John E. Wool during the Mexican War. He was brevetted captain at Buena Vista and received another brevet promotion to major in 1856. McDowell was promoted to brigadier general on May 14th, 1861, given command of the Union Army in Virginia, despite never commanding in combat before. He knew that his troops were inexperienced but pressure from the Washington forced him to launch an offensive against Confederate forces in northern Virginia. His complex strategy during the First Battle of Bull Run resulted in a rout because his troops did not have enough experience to carry out his orders.