John B. Magruder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Bankhead Magruder
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| Nickname(s) | "Prince John" |
| Born | May 1, 1807 Port Royal, Virginia, United States |
| Died | February 19, 1871 (aged 63) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Place of burial |
Episcopal Cemetery, Galveston, Texas
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| Allegiance |  United States Confederate States.svg){kind=small} Second Mexican Empire |
| Service/ |
 United States Army Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1830–1861 (U.S. Army) 1861–1865 (Confederate Army) |
| Rank | Captain Bvt. Lieutenant Colonel (USA) Major General (CSA) |
| Commands held |
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| Battles/wars | Second Seminole War Mexican–American War American Civil War |
| Other work | Lawyer, lecturer |
| Signature | .png){kind=small} |
John Bankhead Magruder (born May 1, 1807 – died February 19, 1871) was an important military officer. He served in both the United States Army and later the Confederate States Army.
Magruder graduated from West Point. He fought well during the Mexican–American War (1846–1848). During the American Civil War (1861–1865), he became a major general for the Confederacy. He is known for slowing down a very large Union army led by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan in 1862. This happened during the Peninsula Campaign. He also successfully took back Galveston, Texas, the next year.
When the Civil War started in 1861, Magruder left the Union Army. He joined the Confederacy instead. He commanded the Army of the Peninsula. He made the Virginia Peninsula stronger with defenses. He also won the Battle of Big Bethel. In the Peninsula Campaign, he stopped McClellan's army outside Yorktown, Virginia. This gave Maj. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston time to bring more soldiers. It also allowed Johnston to plan a retreat and protect the Confederate capital, Richmond. Magruder faced some criticism for his leadership in battles like Savage's Station and Malvern Hill. These were part of the Seven Days Battles. For the rest of the war, he managed military districts in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Arkansas. During this time, he ended the naval blockade of Galveston and recaptured the city in 1863.
After the war ended in June 1865, Magruder went to Mexico. He worked for Emperor Maximillian I in an administrative role. He returned to the United States in 1867. In 1869, he gave talks about the Mexican monarchy. Magruder passed away in Houston in 1871.
Contents
Early Life and Military Start
John Bankhead Magruder was born in Port Royal, Virginia, on May 1, 1807. He was one of ten children. His father, Thomas, came from a family of Scottish plantation owners. His mother, Elizabeth Bankhead, was from a family of millers. John's father was a lawyer, but he often had money problems.
Magruder was not interested in law. He loved the idea of being a soldier. His uncle, James Bankhead, was a military officer. It is thought that his uncle and grandfather, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War, inspired his love for combat with their war stories. In 1825, Magruder was accepted into West Point. He spent one semester at the University of Virginia before starting there.
At West Point, Magruder was very active and ambitious. He often disagreed with the rules. He graduated in 1830, ranking fifteenth in his class. He became a brevet second lieutenant.
Magruder married Henrietta von Kapff in 1831. They had three children: Isabella, Katherine Elizabeth, and Henry R. Henrietta often lived in Baltimore to raise their children. This was because Magruder's military assignments were in remote places. Even though he was often away, Henrietta remained very much in love with him.
Early U.S. Army Career
Magruder transferred to the 1st Artillery to be closer to Henrietta. His biographer described him as charming and intelligent. He was known as "Prince John" because he dressed well and had a dramatic style. He was also known for his good manners.
During the 1830s, Magruder mostly served in garrisons in North Carolina, Maryland, and Florida. These quiet assignments gave him time to study law and pass the bar examination. By 1844, Magruder was not happy with military life. He had not seen much action. He also felt he was not recognized for organizing supplies during the Second Seminole War.
In August 1845, Magruder volunteered to join General Zachary Taylor's army in Corpus Christi, Texas. The U.S. was close to war with Mexico. Magruder first saw combat in the Mexican–American War at the Battle of Palo Alto in May 1846. In April 1847, he fought with skill at Cerro Gordo. He used captured Mexican artillery against them. For this, he was praised and promoted to major. In September, during the Battle of Mexico City, Magruder was slightly wounded. He led attacks to capture important crossroads. This stopped Mexican General Santa Anna from helping the palace.
From the war in Mexico, Magruder learned how to trick and outflank larger enemy forces. He also believed that artillery was becoming more important.
In 1850, Magruder was sent to San Diego, California. He also worked as a land speculator, lawyer, and saloon owner. In 1857, his company became a light artillery battery. Historian Edward A. Pollard said Magruder was one of the best artillery officers. His experience helped him get funding to study European artillery tactics in 1860.
Civil War Service
When the American Civil War began, Magruder was in Washington, D.C.. He was with the Union army. But Magruder's loyalty was to his home state of Virginia. He resigned from the U.S. Army four days after Virginia left the Union in April 1861. He then joined the Confederate States of America (CSA). Virginia's Governor appointed him as a colonel in the Confederate Army.
Magruder was put in charge of forces on the Virginia Peninsula. This area was east of Richmond, the Confederate capital. He quickly saw that the swampy land and rivers would help defend the Peninsula. He ordered three lines of forts to be built. These were to stop Union forces led by Maj. Gen. Benjamin Franklin Butler.
On May 27, Butler sent troops to occupy Newport News. Magruder wanted to slow Butler down. He set up a strong outpost at Big and Little Bethel. Butler attacked and was defeated in the Battle of Big Bethel on June 10. Magruder's victory was important for Confederate morale. He became one of the earliest heroes of the Confederacy. By August 1861, he was promoted to major general.
Peninsula Campaign
Defending the Peninsula
The Confederate victory at the First Battle of Bull Run in July 1861 gave them time to gather more soldiers. In 1862, the Union government wanted to attack Richmond. Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan planned his Peninsula Campaign. His army, the Army of the Potomac, sailed to Fort Monroe starting March 17, 1862. McClellan wanted to move quickly towards Richmond.
As McClellan's plans became clear, the main Confederate army moved to the Peninsula. Magruder's Army of the Peninsula had about 13,600 men. They had to delay McClellan's huge force of 121,500 men. Magruder moved his troops back to a stronger position along the Warwick River. He described this position as having forts and dams that made the river hard to cross.
Two garrisons with 6,000 men and heavy artillery were placed at Gloucester Point and Mulberry Island. These blocked Union ships on the York and James Rivers.
McClellan's army marched forward on April 4. The next day, rain slowed them down. When Union forces reached Magruder's lines, they were met with heavy fire. Magruder used clever tactics. He constantly marched his small force around and fired artillery. This made it seem like he had a much larger army. McClellan was tricked and decided to begin a siege of Yorktown. His only attempt to break Magruder's line on April 16 was stopped.
A day later, General Johnston arrived and took command. Confederate forces on the Peninsula grew to 56,600 men. By April 27, Johnston learned that Union cannons would be ready soon. He decided to retreat towards Richmond. This disappointed Magruder. The retreat on May 3 meant leaving behind some cannons and ammunition.
Williamsburg and Seven Pines
Magruder led his 17,300-man division retreating towards Williamsburg. He then took a break for medical treatment. Maj. Gen. David Rumph Jones took his place. Magruder had ordered a fort, named Fort Magruder, to be built near Williamsburg in 1861. This fort and thirteen smaller ones defended key roads. A Union officer called it a "very ugly place to attack."
Magruder rejoined his men on May 9. His division was ordered to retreat across the Chickahominy River to defend Richmond. On May 31, Johnston launched a big attack at Seven Pines. The goal was to trap two Union corps. Magruder's men were held back and did not fight in this two-day battle. The battle was not a clear win for either side.
The Seven Days Battles
After Johnston was wounded on May 31, General Robert E. Lee took command of the Army of Northern Virginia. Lee planned an attack on McClellan's right side. He wanted to avoid a long siege of Richmond. He also wanted to force McClellan to defend his supply lines. Magruder and General Benjamin Huger guarded Richmond from Union forces south of the Chickahominy.
McClellan's officers wanted more troops north of the Chickahominy. But McClellan was worried by Magruder's troop movements. Magruder used the same tricks he used at Yorktown to make his force seem larger. On June 27, during the Battle of Gaines's Mill, Magruder ordered a small scouting mission. This led to a minor fight. Magruder stopped the attack as soon as he found out about it.
Lee realized McClellan was retreating on June 28. The next day, he ordered Magruder to chase the Union army. Magruder moved slowly. He was told that General Jackson would help with the chase. Magruder fought cautiously at Savage's Station against a larger Union force. The battle ended with no major result. Lee was unhappy with Magruder's slow progress.
As the Confederates continued their chase on June 30, poor communication slowed Magruder down. McClellan was able to move his troops. Magruder's division was held back. Later, he was ordered to join General Theophilus H. Holmes at Malvern Hill. He arrived too late. In the Battle of Malvern Hill on July 1, Lee ordered Magruder, Jackson, and Huger to attack. Magruder was delayed by bad guides and maps. He rode ahead of his troops, confused. Lee told him to attack quickly. Magruder rushed his men into battle as they arrived. They failed to break through the Union defenses.
After these battles, President Davis moved Magruder to command the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona on October 10.
Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona
Magruder's job was to take back Galveston, Texas. The Union had taken it on October 9. Magruder worked with naval captain Leon Smith. They planned to recapture the city, even though the Union had more men and ships. On December 31, Confederate soldiers and cannons were ready to fire at Union ships. Smith's two improvised ships, the Bayou City and Neptune, arrived on January 1, 1863. They attacked the Union fleet. The Bayou City captured the USS Harriet Lane. This led to a truce. The Union commander died while sinking his ship, the USS Westfield. The rest of the Union fleet fled. This surprising victory ended the blockade and captured two Union ships. It cost the Confederates only 26 casualties.
With Galveston back in Confederate hands, Magruder moved to Houston. He tried to change the cotton contract system but failed. Soldiers in his department often lacked supplies. Magruder strictly enforced the draft. Commanders in his subdistricts had strong powers. He sometimes suspended habeas corpus (the right to be brought before a judge). The commander of the Trans-Mississippi Department thought Magruder ignored the law.
During his time, east Texas was always threatened by Union forces. In 1864, a Union invasion of the Red River Valley failed. This led to an order from General Ulysses S. Grant to stop attacking the Gulf Coast. In September 1864, Magruder led the Department of Arkansas. He returned to his previous position in March 1865.
Even after Lee surrendered on April 9, Magruder and Smith urged their men to keep fighting. But they had no other choices. On June 2, the two generals signed an agreement to surrender.
Later Years and Legacy
Confederate officers were not usually arrested after the war. But Magruder joined many Confederates who went to Mexico. He stayed there for 17 months. He met Emperor Maximillian I in Mexico City. He wanted to set up Confederate colonies. By September 17, he became a Mexican citizen. He was appointed chief of the Land Office of Colonization. In 1866, French troops left Mexico, weakening the monarchy. Magruder tried to get Maximillian I to leave the country. But the Emperor refused and was later executed in 1867.
In early 1867, Magruder returned to the United States with little money. He tried to start a law practice in New York City. In 1869, Magruder was invited to give talks in New Orleans about Mexican politics. He spoke kindly of Emperor Maximillian I. Magruder was a natural speaker. His talks were popular in New Orleans, Baltimore, and Galveston. In 1870, he went to Galveston because some wealthy Texans promised to buy him a plantation. But the offer never happened.
Magruder's health was failing. He moved into a hotel in Houston. On February 19, 1871, he passed away from heart disease. He was buried in Houston. Later, citizens of Galveston moved his remains to their Episcopal cemetery on January 10, 1876. A monument was built there in 1894.
Magruder was the third highest-ranking officer in the Army of Northern Virginia. He never wrote his memoirs. He liked to have a showy and unique image. He believed this would inspire his troops. His love for drama was often talked about by his men and other officers. As a leader, Magruder was a smart artillery officer. He could give inspiring speeches and always gave credit to his soldiers.
Historians often say that Magruder's command of the Army of the Peninsula in 1862 was his most important contribution. His efforts on the Virginia Peninsula "saved Richmond." They gave the Confederate government time to gather more soldiers. Some people in the 1800s criticized Magruder's leadership during the Seven Days Battles. They thought he cost the Confederacy a big victory. However, historian Stephen W. Sears believes Magruder's special skill at Yorktown helped greatly in saving Richmond from being taken.
Images for kids
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Signature of John Bankhead Magruder
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John Bankhead Magruder Monument
See also
In Spanish: John B. Magruder para niños
