Magruder, John Bankhead [key], 1810–71, Confederate general in the American Civil War, b. Winchester, Va. His reckless daring in the Mexican War won him quick promotion in the army. At the outbreak of the Civil War he resigned and was made colonel in the Confederate army. In June, 1861, he defeated Benjamin F. Butler at Big Bethel. Promoted to major general (Oct., 1861), Magruder distinguished himself in the Peninsular campaign (1862). As commander of the Dept. of Texas (1862–64), he recaptured Galveston on Jan. 1, 1863. After the war he served (1866–67) as a major general in the army of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. History: Biographies
