John Bankhead Magruder was a United States Army officer in the Mexican War. He also was a Confederate general in the American Civil War.
Background
Ethnicity:
Magruder's father, Thomas, was from a family of Scottish plantation owners.
John Bankhead Magruder was born on August 15, 1807, in Winchester, Virginia. He was the son of Thomas Magruder and Elizabeth Bankhead. The Magruders were originally members of the unfortunate Scotch Clan Gregor.
After the McGregor name had been proscribed in 1603, some of the disbanded clan assumed the name of McGruder. In 1651, one Alexander McGruder was captured at Worcester and was sent to Maryland where he started the numerous Maryland McGruder or Magruder family, with its Virginia offshoot.
Education
John Bankhead Magruder first attended the University of Virginia, whereas a student, he had the opportunity to dine with President Thomas Jefferson. He graduated from United States Military Academy in 1830 with the brevet rank of second lieutenant of infantry.
In 1831 John Magruder transferred to the artillery, and for the following fifteen years served at scattered garrisons, in the occupation of Texas, and in the Seminole War. In 1836, he was promoted, the first lieutenant. After the outbreak of the Mexican War, he was put in charge of the light artillery of Pillow's division. For "gallant and meritorious conduct" he was thrice promoted, finally being appointed, after Chapultepec, lieutenant-colonel.
While other officers showed no eagerness to serve under the "restless and hot-tempered Magruder," Thomas Jonathan Jackson bent all his energies and got command under him, for Jackson knew that "if any fighting was to be done Magruder would be 'on hand'." Magruder later was stationed in Maryland, California, and at Newport, Rhode Island.
On March 16, 1861, having resigned his commission, John was appointed colonel in the Confederate army and was in May put in command of the troops on the Virginia Peninsula. At Big Bethel, in May he won a small engagement, the much-heralded first battle of the Civil War.
After Big Bethel, Magruder was made a brigadier general and in October 1861, major general. Upon McClellan's advance in the spring of 1862, Magruder, commanding about 12, 000 men, displayed much energy in building defensive works to delay him and in deceiving him in regard to the smallness of his force. While "keeping up a clutter" to fool McClellan, "Prince John" was in his element; indeed his whole conduct so far on the Peninsula won him considerable fame But in the Seven.
Days' Battle around Richmond Magruder's star went into eclipse. His failure to command efficiently was one of the numerous causes of Lee's failure to injure, if not to crush, McClellan. Magruder's force was placed on the south side of the Chickahominy in front of the enemy's left.
On June 28, Lee sent orders for him to use the utmost vigilance, and, if the enemy retreated, to pursue vigorously. But Magruder gave no intimation of the Federal withdrawal that day, and it was only discovered the next sunrise by two of Longstreet's engineer officers. On June 29, though there was a serious gap in the opposing forces, Magruder was not quick enough to take advantage of the opportunity, even sending for reinforcements.
In the late afternoon, he attacked gallantly, first at Allen's Farm and then at Savage Station, but was repulsed with heavy loss, and the Federal rearguard continued its retreat. Lee wrote a firm note regretting his slight progress and urging him to press on vigorously. There was some excuse, however, for Magruder in that he erroneously believed that Jackson had been ordered not to support him.
At Malvern Hill, on July 1, Magruder marched on the wrong road but made a natural mistake for which he was unduly censured. Magruder considered himself mistreated in the official reports. He opened a correspondence with Lee, arguing with vigor and not with literal accuracy. He was a disappointment to Lee, who desired not only good generals but men with whom he could work.
On October 10, 1862, Magruder was transferred to the command of the district of Texas, later enlarged to include New Mexico and Arizona. He strove to fortify the defenseless Texas coast, and equipped two cotton-clad steamers; on January 1, 1863, he captured Galveston and the revenue cutter Harriet Lane and drove off the blockading fleet.
In March 1864, he sent most of his troops to reinforce R. H. Taylor's opposing Banks in Louisiana. Upon the close of hostilities, refusing to seek parole, Magruder went to Mexico and became a major-general under Maximilian. He returned to the United States after the downfall of the Emperor and lectured upon his Mexican experiences.
Achievements
Magruder was known as a United States Army officer in the Mexican-American War, a Confederate general during the American Civil War, and a postbellum general in the Imperial Mexican Army.
A number of geographic features have been named in honor of John Magruder, such as Fort Magruder, a Confederate stronghold during the Battle of Williamsburg, Magruder in York County, Virginia, a small town near Williamsburg. During World War II, about 1943, the United States Navy relocated the residents and the entire former town of Magruder became part of a large military reservation known as Camp Peary. Beginning in 1951, the facility has been designated for "Armed Forces Experimental Training Activity," and unofficially, is known as a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) facility nicknamed "The Farm." Access was still highly restricted as of 2005. Magruder Boulevard, a major connector road that runs through the independent city of Hampton and into York County.
Not only was Magruder one of the best trained of the Virginia officers, but he was the type to attract attention. John was tall and flamboyantly handsome. He spoke with a lisp, except when singing tenor, which he did frequently.
Quotes from others about the person
"Magruder was a born soldier... He would fight all day and dance all night. He wrote love songs and sang them, and won an heiress rich beyond comparison." Magruder spoke with a lisp. He was six feet tall and 'in full regimentals'." - John N. Edwards
Interests
John's avocation was composing songs and staging concerts and amateur theater productions, something to relieve the tedium of peacetime garrison duty.
Connections
Magruder married Esther Henrietta Von Kapff in May 1831, but they were rarely together - towards the end of his life, many people were surprised to find out he was married after years of knowing him. The couple had at least three children.
