John Bankhead Magruder – A Military Reappraisal
For generations, history’s pendulum swung toward the view that John Bankhead Magruder was a foppish flash in the Confederate pan, a dandy with a penchant for drink. Now, after years of research, author Thomas Settles grasps the pendulum with both white-knuckled hands and, with a mighty effort, forces it toward a more balanced view of Magruder. Magruder, the affable “Prince John,” is best remembered — if he is remembered at all — for his defense of the Peninsula in the early stages of George McClellan’s 1862 campaign to take Richmond. Settles presents a positive view of Magruder, and argues that he deserves a much higher place in the Confederate pantheon. Readers may or may not be persuaded by Settles’ arguments, but they will certainly learn a great deal about an officer whose reputation was tarnished by criticisms and accusations that, in retrospect, may have been driven by jealousy and personality conflicts, rather than actual facts. If Settles errs, it is in being too staunch a defender of his subject. In spending so many years of his life learning Magruder’s story, Settles developed a clear admiration and fondness for the man, which bleeds through on nearly every page. By making Magruder a heroic subject, Settles, either by accident or design, makes villains out of several prominent Civil War figures, both Union and Confederate. The most frustrating aspect of reading Settles’ book is his burdensome use of detailed footnotes. There are pages where the text of the notes takes up more page space than the text of the narrative. The footnotes do reflect the author’s prodigious research, but create almost a second narrative that distracts from the telling of Magruder’s story. John Bankhead Magruder is a well-researched and highly informative work that restores some luster to the Confederate general’s tarnished reputation. If Settles pushes history’s pendulum too far in the opposite direction, it is almost understandable — as Settles makes clear repeatedly —Prince John was a “hail fellow well met.” Reviewer: John Deppen is past president of the Susquehanna CWRT, a member of General John F. Hartranft Camp #15 of the SUVCW and a living historian who portrays Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock. His articles and reviews have appeared in Military Heritage, Gettysburg Magazine, The Civil War News and The Daily Item in central Pennsylvania.
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Illustrated, footnotes, bibliography, index, 346 pp., 2009. Louisiana State University Press, P.O. Box 25053, Baton Rouge LA 70808, $45 plus shipping.