John Bankhead Magruder | |
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John B. Magruder
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Nickname(s) | Prince John |
Born |
Port Royal, Virginia |
May 1, 1807
Died | February 19, 1871 Houston, Texas |
(aged 63)
Place of burial | Episcopal Cemetery, Galveston, Texas |
Allegiance |
United States Confederate States Second Mexican Empire |
Service/branch |
United States Army Confederate States Army Imperial Mexican Army |
Years of service | 1830–61 (USA) 1861–65 (CSA) 1865–1867 (Mexican Empire) |
Rank |
Captain (USA) Bvt. Lieutenant Colonel (USA) Major General (CSA) Major General (Mexico) |
Unit | 7th U.S. Infantry 1st U.S. Artillery |
Commands held | Magruder's Division Army of the Peninsula District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona Department of Arkansas |
Battles/wars | |
Other work | Second Mexican Empire |
Second Seminole War
Mexican-American War
American Civil War
John Bankhead Magruder (May 1, 1807 – February 19, 1871) was a career military officer who served in the armies of three nations. He was a U.S. Army officer in the Mexican-American War, a Confederate general during the American Civil War, and a postbellum general in the Imperial Mexican Army. Known as "Prince John" to his army friends, Magruder was most noted for his actions in delaying Federal troops during the 1862 Peninsula Campaign through elaborate ruses that gave Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan the impression that the Confederates had more forces than in actuality, and in successfully defending Galveston, Texas, against the Union Army and Navy early in 1863.
Magruder was born in Port Royal, Virginia to Thomas and Elizabeth Magruder and is of Scottish ancestry.
He first attended the University of Virginia, where he had the opportunity to dine with former President Thomas Jefferson. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1830, where he was the roommate of William N. Pendleton. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 7th U.S. Infantry regiment. He was later assigned to the 1st U.S. Artillery.