Prince John Magruder: His Life and Campaigns

The first book ever to tell the wild story of the Confederate general whose outrageous behavior overshadowed his military acumen One of the most intriguing characters to fight for the South in the Civil War, Major General John Bankhead Magruder was known as Prince John for his ostentatious uniforms and ribald lifestyle. A master of military maneuvers, he led his troops to early victories in his native Virginia, and in the waning stages of the war he guided successful defenses of Texas. Yet Magruder is famous more for his high profile social life and friends, including Edgar Allan Poe, Robert E. Lee, Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis and Mexican Emperor Maximilian. This is the first full-length biography to record the maverick life of this figure often overlooked in the pages of history. * Based on research in over 50 manuscript collections as well as countless secondary sources and newspapers * Sheds new light on lesser-known Civil War engagements in Texas and the American West PAUL D. CASDORPH (Charleston, West Virginia) is Chairman Emeritus of the Department of History at West Virginia State College. He is the author of several books, including the Civil War dual biography Lee and Jackson: Confederate Chieftains.