Today, we spotlight “Prince John” Bankhead Magruder, the namesake of Magruder Blvd in Hampton, and our very own Magruder Elementary School.
John Bankhead Magruder’s tale unfurls in the picturesque setting of Port Royal, Virginia. Born in 1807, he was one of ten siblings, suggesting that the Magruders weren’t fans of quiet evenings. They descended from Scottish plantation owners, but by John’s era, their fortunes seemed to be playing a game of hide and seek. His father, Thomas, despite dabbling in law, showcased a unique talent for racking up debt. By 1820, the family’s assets melted faster than ice cream on a summer day.
Before he donned the mantle of “Prince” on the battlefield, Magruder dabbled in law in the vibrant city of Charlottesville. While most lawyers are celebrated for their courtroom eloquence and prowess, Magruder was… memorable in other, more unique ways.
While the Magruders boasted a legal legacy, John was captivated by other pursuits. War tales from family veterans ignited his passion for soldiering. These tales, coupled with a few influential recommendations, secured him a spot at West Point in 1826, after a brief, and likely forgettable, stint at the University of Virginia.
Enter the tale of his union with the enchanting Myrthe Bringier, a woman of notable wealth. Some might romanticize it as a match made in heaven, while skeptics might see it as a strategic alliance for a man whose career trajectory was, at the time, plateauing. But hey, love is love, right?
Fast forward to the 1830s, a decade brimming with ambition and adventure for many. But for our dear “Prince John” Magruder, it was a period of… introspection. Stationed in the dynamic hubs of North Carolina, Maryland, and Florida, Magruder was engrossed in the exhilarating realm of garrison duty. While some might crave battlefield thrills, Magruder relished the calmer facets of military life.
This serene chapter, however, wasn’t devoid of its perks. The abundance of leisure allowed Magruder to plunge into the world of law. And plunge he did, emerging with not only a refreshed understanding of the legal system but also the esteemed title of a bar-certified lawyer. Quite the feather in the cap for a man of his… eclectic talents.
Yet, by 1844, change was in the air. As a recruitment officer, Magruder yearned for more. Maybe it was the biting northern chill of the Hancock Barracks in Maine, rumored to have gifted him a stubborn bronchial infection. Or perhaps it was the absence of military action, a stark deviation from his earlier aspirations. But what truly gnawed at him was the lack of acknowledgment for his relentless efforts in marshaling supplies during the Second Seminole War. After all, a smidgen of appreciation is all anyone truly craves, isn’t it?
On the battlefield, “Prince John” undeniably carved a niche for himself. However, to be candid, it wasn’t always attributed to his strategic acumen. Leadership is an art, and while some are naturally adept, others, like Magruder, adopt a more… unorthodox approach.
This segues us to the Civil War and the narrative of Magruder and Butler at Big Bethel, a confluence of military “brilliance” and serendipity.
The Battle of Big Bethel on June 10th, 1861, was a spectacle to behold. Thanks to some chatty civilians and a classic Magruder-style friendly fire mishap, the Confederate’s position was as conspicuous as a fireworks display. Yet, against the odds favoring Butler, Magruder’s troops stood their ground. Maybe it was sheer luck, or perhaps, just perhaps, Magruder had a rare moment of getting it right.
Post-Big Bethel, accolades for Magruder poured in like a deluge. The adulation was so amplified that one could be forgiven for thinking he single-handedly clinched the war right there. In reality, the battle’s tactical significance was akin to a minor skirmish. But never underestimate a well-oiled PR machine. Magruder’s “victory” bolstered Confederate morale, catapulting him to the status of the South’s poster boy. Historian Douglas Southall Freeman even posited that, momentarily, Magruder was the Confederacy’s darling, second only to Beauregard. Quite the fleeting blaze of glory.
By August 1861, Magruder ascended to the rank of major general. One can only visualize the jubilation in the Magruder camp, while Butler was left pondering how he was outmaneuvered by the likes of “Prince John.” History, it appears, revels in its quirks.
Transitioning to Galveston, Texas’s gem, Magruder was redeployed post his Virginia Peninsula tenure. With the city securely under Confederate control, Magruder, in a move surprising to absolutely no one, opted for a “break” in Houston. After all, seizing a city is grueling work, and what better way to unwind than with some quintessential administrative tasks?
Topping Magruder’s agenda? Overhauling the cotton contract system. While most would deem this a rudimentary task, “Prince John” transformed it into a Herculean challenge. The outcome? An unequivocal debacle. But who needs a seamless cotton contract system when there’s a city to govern?
Speaking of governance, Magruder’s administrative flair was, let’s phrase it, distinctive. The Trans-Mississippi Department’s soldiers, presumably anticipating provisions post their hard-won battles, were left in the lurch. But fret not, Magruder had an ace up his sleeve: enforce the draft with unparalleled zeal! Because nothing conveys gratitude for service quite like conscripting more into it.
And we mustn’t overlook those subdistrict commanders. Under Magruder’s vigilant gaze, they brandished power reminiscent of medieval barons, whimsically decreeing and behaving as if they ruled the roost. And the rule of law? Magruder’s interpretation was, to put it mildly, malleable. He sporadically suspended habeas corpus, possibly for kicks, prompting Edmund Kirby Smith, the Trans-Mississippi Department’s commander, to remark on Magruder’s “utter disregard for the law.” But when you’re “Prince John,” who needs legalities?
In summary, Magruder’s Texas chapter was, to understate, eventful. A textbook example of how not to govern, but executed with all the flair and flamboyance one would anticipate from the man.
Yet, perhaps the most riveting segment in Magruder’s saga was his 1865 decision to abscond from the U.S. post the colossal Confederate defeat and venture to Mexico. There, he pledged allegiance to none other than Emperor Maximilian, a European monarch. It’s a rarity to witness an American general swearing fealty to a foreign potentate, but Magruder was never one to toe the line.
And, as if his narrative wasn’t already brimming with intrigue, Magruder returned to the U.S., regaling audiences with tales of his escapades and musings on the virtues of authoritarian empires. He embarked on the lecture circuit, disseminating his insights to all and sundry. Because if there’s one domain Magruder excelled in, it was oration.
So, the next time you cruise down Magruder Boulevard or saunter past the school bearing his moniker, spare a moment to muse on the man behind the myth. A man of myriad… “talents”, some more dubious than others, but undeniably a persona who indelibly etched his legacy on history.
