The military career of John Bankhead MagruderShow full item record
Title | The military career of John Bankhead Magruder |
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Author | Settles, Thomas Michael |
Date | 1972 |
Genre | Dissertation |
Degree | Doctor of Philosophy |
Abstract | John Bankhead Magruder graduated fifteenth of forty-two cadets in the United States Military Academy class of 1830. He spent the next sixteen years in the First Regiment of Artillery without tasting combat. These were not happy years for Magruder. Much of his time was spent in garrison duty or on recruiting assignments in remote locations away from his wife and three children in Baltimore. His health declined when stationed at Rouse's Point, New York, and Houlton Barracks, Maine, during the Canadian Boundary disputes. And his morale declined because of a general dissatisfaction with the service including a lack of promotions. The Mex\can War changed Magruder's career as well as his opinion of the army. For conspicuous gallantry displayed at Cerro Gordo, Contreras, and Chapultepec, Prince John was breveted Lieutenant-Colonel. He emerged the war as a hero and was recognized as one of the foremost artillerists in the army. During the 1850's he drew up a detailed plan for organizing the light artillery companies into a battalion, commanded the Artillery School for Instruction at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, and twice visited Europe to observe foreign armies in action. When Virginia seceded, Magruder resigned his commission and entered the confederate army with the rank of Colonel. Charged with the defense of Richmond, he won the first battle of the war at Big Bethel, defeating troops of General Ben F. Butler, and then successfully held General George B. McClellan at bay until Joe Johnston arrived with re-enforcements. Magruder, promoted Major-General for his services, was recognized as a hero second only to Beauregard in the esteem of the Confederacy. His reputation suffered, however, in the wake of the Seven Day's Battles where he was unjustly blamed for errors made by Lee, Huger, and Jackson. After assuming command of the District of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, Magruder regained his reputation with the brilliant recapture of Galveston. This was his last important military action. Magruder fled reconstruction at war's end, going to Mexico, where he was appointed Chief of the Land Office of Colonization. The short-lived colonial project ended when Emperor Maximilian was ousted by Benito Juarez. For the next few years Magruder lived briefly in New York, New Orleans, and Houston, where he died on February 18, 1871. |
Link | https://repository.tcu.edu/handle/116099117/33535 |
Department | History |
Advisor | Nunn, William C. |
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- Doctoral Dissertations [1485]
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