He lived hard, did well and, sadly, died way too young, of yellow fever.
His victory over a Union flotilla at the Battle of Sabine Pass (mouth of the river separating Texas & Louisiana), defeated a Union tactic which had previously won at Mobile & New Orleans.
It got Dowling promoted to major in the Confederate Army.
Dowling is honored with a statue, school & street names in Houston, a memorial at Sabine Pass and in his home town of Tuam, Ireland.
