The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-08-21
GENERAL JOHN B. MAGRUDER.
AN APPREcIATIvE SKETCH BY A Eel
LOW CAMPAIGNER.

grass was growing about it in the
early summer, and there were some
flowers there, withered and faded,
scattered by woman's hand.
Magruder was wonderful man
He stood six feet four in height, and
had a frame men envied and women
adored. His nerves were all iron.
Foreign travel and comprehensive
culture had given to his wit a zest
that was always crisp and sparkling.
He never lacerated. To the sting of
repartee he added the honey of the
clover. He could fight all day and
frolic all night. In the morning a
glass of brandy and strong cigar
renewed his strength, and caused the
cup of his youth to run over with
the precious wine of health and spi-
rits. He loved magnificent uniforms,
magnificent horses, magnificent rid
ers, and magnificent women. Gifted
and graceful in conversation, he was
o pet in the boudoir and a logician
in the barracks. He had studied
French in Paris, Italian in Rome,
and Spanish in the Halls Of the Mon
tezumas. His workmanship was of
the English kind, that is to say, not
graceful, but impossible to be sur
passed for firm riding and endurance.
He wrote little love songs that were
set to music. One of them elmo
gene" had in it the plaintive melody
of q lover, and the sad rythm of bu-
rial bugles. In the Crimea he as
tonished the French officers BY sleep
ing at the front with the chasseurs
under Are. In Mexico he sent back
to the Archbishop lady's perfumed
glove he had found in the palace
when the city was won, and with it a
note which read: "It is pretty
enough to.have belonged to queen.
Would she have pardoned me if l
had appropriated it2"
AS the Archbishop sent him next
day basket of delicious wine, it is
supposed that the fair owner of the
glove must have looked leniently up
on the handsome American soldier.
Later and he was riding with Gene
raj Scott down the long street of It.
urbide. General Garnett Joined
them, and Magruder drew a little
back for his superiors to consult to
gether. A white puff of smoke curl,
ed up and about an open window, a
sudden report followed speedily, and
Garrett and horse rolled over to,
gether upon the pavement. An
ounce ball intended for Scott, had
broken Garnett's thigh and killed
his charger. Fearing another fire
Magruder galloped to the side of his
chief and covered his body with his
own. The old mans eye never drop
ped nor his voice changed an into
nation. Show long will is take te
batter that house9" he spoke CURLY
to Lieutenant Magruder, pointing
with sweep of his finger to the one
nearest, and from which the bullet
came. IAN hour by the watch, Gen
eral." "rhen open fire at point
blank range, and leave not one stone
upon another"
1t was done, and well done, ant
those who saw Magruder soonest af
forwards noticed that he had another
bar on his epaulette, and that he hac
been made q captain. War was his
element, the bivouac his delight, anc
the battle his liperfect happiness
Prodigal, fashionable, foolishly brave
sometimes, a spend thrift, generous
true friend and staunch comrade
the surrender at Appomattox Cour
House made him an aged man in hi
prime, and wrinkled his features
which had before resisted all the at
tacks of time. One who wandered
far and long with him in other lands
in sweet sunshiny weather, relates
how, from Vera Cruz to Chapultape'
he went with Magruder all over thu
battle fields of the Mexican war;
The light came to his eyes and thu
fire to his face when telling of Con
treras, and Churubusco and Perot,
and Molina del Rey, and the BeleI
Gate, aud Chapultapec, and the CITY
of Mexico. His talk was never en-
ded of Scott and Twiggs, Wool ane
Worth, Smith and Pillow, Taylo
and Quitman, and all the young sub
ordinates who Afterwards played sucl
bloody parts in the greatest of Amer
lean dramas. OF Mcclellan he tolc
this incident among a thousand
"The fire from the hill OF Chapulte
pee was terrible. Fifty pieces o
heavy artillery were massed against
my four gun battery, at point blank
range, and in the valley below reg
iment of lancers were forming for O
charge. Our fire had been slackeneG
and the men were lying down. A
young man sat beside one of the
guns, amusing himself with picking
up pebbles and shooting them out
from his hand. The lancers came
nearer. l called to tue young officer
whom / have noticed, and he sprane
up, saluting. "Your name Lieute
nant." "Geo. B. Mcclellan" Every
we'll Tiautenant toka commend -,