The Van Buren press., 1870-04-05
MISCELLANY.
General J. Banksead Magruder

To THE EDITOR OF rnE New ORLEANS
TIMEs:-
The visit of this distinguished Officer
to our city renders opportune a biograph
ical sketch, from which ] am compelled
to omit many details that would be ex
ceedingly interesting.
Gen. Magruder was born in Port Roy
al, Carolina county, Va, on the Kappa
hammock river tide water" After re-
ceiving an excellent elementary educa
tion, including Greek, Latin. aud French
he became student Of the University ol
! Virginia, then just opened by Thomas
Jefferson The Rector was ex-Presidenl
James Madison, and one of the Board ol
Visitors was ex- President James Munroe,
Being blood relation Of Mr.. Munroe
and connection, by a family marriage,
with Mr.. Jefferson, young Magrudcr
learned from the lips Of those statesmen
the political history of the country and
imbibed the principles of elevated pat
riotism which such men could so impress
sively teach.
After two years sojourn at the Uni
versity, Magruder received cadets APP
pointment at West Point, where he be-
came the highest military officer in the
corps of cadets, and graduated well in
his class After marrying the daughter
of Mr. Bernard l. Won Kapff, Of Balti-
more, one of the first merchants of that
city, the young officer saw his first service
at Fortress Monroe, Va, whence he was
ordered to North Carolina. There being
no prospect Of active service, he studied
law with Judge William Easton, of North
Carolina, and was admitted to the bar af-
ter public exsminati I. by the Supreme
Court, at Raleigh, receiving fiattering en-
comiums from them for his proficiency
in his studies -.
The Florida war ba'oxe out, and aban-
doning his intention to practice law,
Magruder remained in the army, and dis
tinguished himself during the long and
severe struggle with the Seminoles.
When the Mexican war commenced,
Magruder was among the first to front
the foe. He participated in the battles OF
Palo Alto and Resaca, the taking OF
Matamoros, the seige Of Vera Cruz, the
battles Of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churu
basco, Molino del Rey, Chapultepec and
the Garitas-was officially reported as
distinguished for gallant conduct in the
presence of the enemy six different times
in fiue, went into this brief war as q
lieutenant and came out lieutenant colo.
nal
Being then ordered to California, Col.
Magruder was engaged in the Indian
wars Of that region. In 1857, '5S and
80, he was in command al Newport,
Rhode Island, where he dispensed hos
pitality in a style of liberality and ele-
gance remembered by hundreds of visi
tors from all parts of the country. In
1859 he was placed at the head OF the
Light Artillery School Of Practice at Ft
Leavenworth. which, as the official re
ports at Washington show, he brought
to a state Of great perfection.
In 1860, he was sent by the United
States Government to Europe, to report
upon the organization, tactics and condi
ton of the European armies. Whilst on
this duty, he and other United States of
flcers abroad were recalled by circular
from the War Department, stating that
their services were required ut home
Lieut.. Col. Magruder returned forthwith
found his command at Washington City
where he served about month and
when Virginia his mother State, seeded
he rendered his resignation to President
Lincoln, by whom it was accepted. Ht
at once proceeded to Richmond, to re
port to the State authorities, and the
Governor appointed him Colonel of In
iantry. On the arrival Of the Confede'
rate Cabinet at Richmond, Magruder was
offered a Lieutenant Colonelship in the
regular Confederate service. He accept
ed, without hesitation, and equipped and
drilled twelve light batteries, which took
part in the first Manassas"
lie was then appointed to command on
the Peninsula Of Virginia, where he gain
ed the battle of Big Bethel, with l50(
men, opposed to nearly 5000, sent out by
Gen. b. +. Butler, from Fort Monroe
Such were his services that, in three
months he was made Colonel, Brigadiel
General and Major General. Here, as
Gen. Mcclellan, his distinguished oppo.
ncnt expressed it, Gen. Magrudcr con
structed the "most superb forttiaations
of modern times They extended a dis
tance Of some twelve miles across the
Peninsula lie defended them foot by
foot, with 1000 men, for many days
against Mcclellan with 10000; until
Gen j. u Johnston came with reinforce
ments, and by virtue Of superior rank
assumed command. 1t was undoubtedly
owing to Magrudcrs skillful and obsti.
nate defence on the Peninsula, that Rich.
mond was saved and while in command
Gen Johnston published one ofthe most
eloquent compliments on record in com
plment to his gallant brother officer.
In the struggle of giants--the !" Seven
Days Fight" around Richmond--Gen
Maqruder commanded large and picked
division, with which he won the battle OF
i" Savage S,ation," and was in the blood
lest and most hotly contested part of the
closing conflict at Malvern Hills, from
which admirably chosen and splendidly