McDowell was a guerrilla under John Jarrette. He surrendered to Col. Pennick at Independence, Mo. during the winter of 1862-63. According to William H. Gregg, he betrayed some of the other guerrillas, leading to the deaths of several of them on Feb. 11, 1863. This is evidence enough for me to doubt that he was at Lawrence on August 21, 1863, as some allege.

McDowell was hanged during the winter of 1866-67 from a bridge over the Neosho River at Council Grove, Kansas for stealing horses.