Prince John Magruder: His Life and Campaigns

John Magruder (1807-1871) has a place in history as one of the Confederacy's lesser lights. Found wanting in the initial stages of the fighting in Virginia, he exited that vital theater of the war for an obscure post in Texas. But ""Prince John"" was more than a table-setter for Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Casdorph (Lee and Jackson: Confederate Chieftains) establishes him in the context of the prewar regular army, where he combined the flamboyant lifestyle that earned him his nickname with a deserved reputation for courage under fire. Magruder was a heavy drinker, however, and during the Peninsular Campaign of 1862, he mishandled his troops on several occasions. Even so, his performance was arguably no worse than those of many of his counterparts. Nevertheless, his assignment to the Trans-Mississippi District was widely regarded as an exile. Casdorph demonstrates that Magruder performed effectively in this lower-stress situation, outfighting and outthinking his opponents until the war ended. He also kept his drinking under control. Casdorph's diligently researched presentation highlights the need for further study of alcohol as a stress manager among senior Civil War officers. And while no biography can make John Magruder into a great military leader, this sturdy life establishes him as a useful one. (Nov.)