Irvin McDowell

Irvin McDowell
Photo of McDowell taken during the American Civil War
Born	(1818-10-15)October 15, 1818 Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Died	May 4, 1885(1885-05-04) (aged 66) San Francisco, California, U.S.
Place of burial	San Francisco National Cemetery, Presidio of San Francisco
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1838–1882
Rank	Major general
Commands held	Army of Northeastern Virginia I Corps, Army of the Potomac III Corps, Army of Virginia Department of the Pacific Department of California Department of the West
Battles/wars	Mexican–American War American Civil War Battle of Fairfax Courthouse Battle of Vienna, Virginia Battle of Arlington Mills Battle of Blackburn's Ford First Battle of Bull Run Second Battle of Bull Run
Other work	Park Commissioner, San Francisco

Irvin McDowell (October 15, 1818 – May 4, 1885)^[1] was an American army officer. He is best known for his defeat in the First Battle of Bull Run, the first large-scale battle of the American Civil War. In 1862, he was given command of the I Corps of the Army of the Potomac. He fought unsuccessfully against Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's troops during the Valley Campaign of 1862 and was blamed for contributing to the defeat of United States troops at the Second Battle of Bull Run in August.