Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 27.djvu/213

 Colonel John /imrii- Mnt/rmler. 205

Wounded, 2d Florida, 62; 5th Florida, 76; 8th Florida 65; Total wounded, 203.

Total casualties, 239.

COLONEL JOHN BOWIE MAGRUDER.

Historical Sketch of His Life.

By Col. WM. H. STEWART, Portsmouth, Va.

John Bowie Magruder was born on the 24th day of November, 1839, at Scottsville, in Albemarle county, Virginia. He was the oldest son of Benjamin H. Magruder and Maria Minor, daughter of Dr. James Minor, and great-grandson of Garrett Minor, of "Sunning Hill," who was a member of the Committee of Safety in 1775 for Louisa county, and represented it in the Legislature in 1793. The family removed to " Glenmore, " about seven miles from Charlottes- ville, Va., when John was five years old. He first attended private schools in the neighborhood; went to Colonel John Bowie Strange' s "Albemarle Military Academy," at Charlottesville, one session, then matriculated at the University of Virginia in 1856, and took the degree of Master of Arts in June, 1860. He was a teacher in Nel- son's Academy, in Culpeper county, at the outbreak of the Confed- erate war, which position he at once relinquished and went to the Virginia Military Institute to take a two months' course in military tactics.

On his return home, he organized a military company, called the " Rivanna Guards;" was elected and commissioned captain July 22, 1861. The gray cloth for their uniforms was furnished by the county, and the ladies of the three families at " Glenmore," " Edge Hill," and " Gale Hill " made them.

The " Rivanna Guards," under Special Order No. 276, Adjutant and Inspector-General's Office, Richmond, Va., dated September 12, 1861, was assigned to the 32d Virginia regiment infantry, Colonel B. Stoddert Ewell, commanding; and on the 23d day of September, 1861, it was transferred to the 57th Virginia regiment, constituted by Special Order No. 285, under command of Major E. F. Keen,