Prince John Magruder His Life and Campaigns [Hardcover]

He was one of the most intriguing characters of the Civil War era.As famous for his courage as for his ornate uniforms and flamboyantstyle, he won intrepid victories on the peninsula of Virginia andsuccessfully defended Texas during the long war's waning days. Now,in the first full-length biography of Major General John BankheadMagruder, acclaimed historian Paul D. Casdorph has created abrilliant portrait of the Confederate general dubbed PrinceJohn.

Born in Virginia in 1807, Magruder attended the University ofVirginia, where he dined with Thomas Jefferson and his classmatesincluded a young writer named Edgar Allan Poe. These were the firstin a long line of famous acquaintances. While at West Point,Magruder met the future Confederate leaders with whom he wouldultimately join forces: Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and JosephE. Johnston.

Graduating from West Point in 1830, Magruder embarked upon threeaction-packed decades of service in the U.S. Army, taking him fromFlorida during the Seminole wars to the frontiers of Maine, NewYork, and Texas. In 1847, his pivotal leadership of GeneralWinfield Scott's forces was instrumental in defeating Santa Anna atthe gates of Mexico City. It was in that conflict that Magruderintroduced a young lieutenant named Thomas Jackson to the strategicvalue of deploying rapidly maneuverable artillery. Fourteen yearslater, at Bull Run, Jackson would earn a colorful nickname of hisown: Stonewall.

By the spring of 1861, Prince John Magruder had risen to theestimable position of commander of the Washington garrison.Although he knew Abraham Lincoln and several cabinet memberspersonally, when secession and war became imminent, Magruderresigned his duties as the president's bodyguard to race home toVirginia to answer the Confederate call to arms.

In the opening engagements of the Civil War, Prince John'sinitiative and audacity earned him both admiration and acclalÓ: