Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell was born on 15 October 1818 in Franklinton, Franklin Co., OH. He married
, daughter of Henry Barden. Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell died on 4 May 1885 in 1606 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, San Francisco Co., CA,
Obituary:
From the Daily Alta California, San Francisco, Tuesday, May 5, 1885:
GENERAL IRVIN M'DOWELL.
Death of the Hero and Warrior at Midnight.
A SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
His Record During the Civil War and His Connection With the Pacific Coast - His Last Hours.
Major-General Irvin McDowell, on the retired list of the United States Army, died at his residence, No. 1606 Van Ness avenue, about midnight. He had been seriously ill for some months, but his disease did not give his family or medical attendants any alarm until a fortnight ago, when he was confined to his room, and since then their utmost efforts failed to prevent a fatal termination. He suffered from a complication of disorders, but the chief trouble was owing to a disarrangement of the functions of the pylorus, which prevented the stomach from retaining any kind of nourishment, and the result was a gradual wasting away of strength and death followed from slow starvation. For more than a week the gallant hero of many a stormy battle-field has faced the gradual coming of the grim monster with the perfect composure that comes of dauntless courage, and he met his fate without a murmur. His death has been hourly expected for several days, and all the papers made preparations to learn the fact by keeping a death-watch, similar to that recently kept over General Grant. The solemn moment came about midnight , and surrounded by his wife, son and daughter, he passed away peacefully, though unconscious. For many years Gen. McDowell has been a prominent figure in California history, and since his retirement from duty he has made his home in this city. He was a man of varied acquirements and was a welcome guest at public entertainments, being an off-hand speaker and fond of society. He has served as one of the Golden Gate Park Commissioners, and was succeeded by Senator Leland Stanford. He married the daughter of Henry Barden, the wealthy manufacturer of Troy, New York, and leaves one son, Henry B. McDowell, editor of the Ingleside, and an unmarried daughter. Due notice will be given of the time and place of the funeral.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
General Irvin McDowell was born in Franklin county, Ohio, on October 15, 1818. He attended for some time a military school in France, graduated at West Point in 1838, and from 1841 to 1845 was employed there in various capacities. In the Mexican War he was brevetted Captain for his conduct at the battle of Buena Vista, and was subsequently Adjutant-General in Wood's division of the Army of Occupation. From 1848 to 1858 he was Assistant Adjutant-General in various departments, and resumed his duties after a year's absence in Europe.
HIS CIVIL WAR RECORD.
At the opening of the Civil War he was stationed at Washington, engaged in organizing troops there. He was appointed Brigadier-General of the United States Army May 14, 1861, and was placed in command of the Department of Northeast Virginia, and on May 27th, of the Army of the Potomac.
He commanded at the battle of Bull Run, July 21st, and subsequently had charge of the defense of Washington until March 14, 1862, when he was made Major-General of volunteers, and placed in command of a crops of the Army of the Potomac. He was engaged in operations in northern Virginia, took part in the pursuit of General Jackson, and under Pope was present at the second battle of Bull Run, August 29, 30, 1862. In 1863-4 he was President of the Court for investigating cotton frauds and of the board for retiring disabled officers. From July, 1864, to June, 1865, he was in command of the department of the Pacific, and in the latter year was brevetted Major-General of the United States Army. He was mustered out of the volunteer service September 1st, 1866.
ASSIGNED TO THE PACIFIC COAST.
In November, 1872, he was promoted to be Major-General U.S.A., and in December of the same year assigned to the command of the Division of the South, where he remained until June 26, 1876. He was then given command of the Division of the Pacific, which position he continued to hold until October 15, 1882. After this he was placed on the retired list, according to the general rule.
General McDowell, although a man of very strong will, was universally loved by his subordinates, owing to the unswerving impartiality and fairness which he exhibited in all his dealings with his fellow men. He will long be remembered with regret by all those who came in contact with him on this Coast and elsewhere.