Winfield Scott

Winfield Scott
Name	Winfield Scott
Caption	Scott in 1862
Birth date	13 June 1786
Death date	29 May 1866
Birth place	Dinwiddie County, Virginia
Death place	West Point, New York
Placeofburial	West Point Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Serviceyears	1808–1861
Rank	Brevet Lieutenant General
Commands	1st Brigade, New York Militia, Division of the North, Eastern Division, United States Army, Union Army
Battles	War of 1812, • Battle of Queenston Heights, • Battle of Fort George, • Battle of Chippawa, • Battle of Lundy's Lane, Arikara War, Black Hawk War, Second Seminole War, Mexican–American War, • Siege of Veracruz, • Battle of Cerro Gordo, • Battle of Contreras, • Battle of Churubusco, • Battle of Molino del Rey, • Battle of Chapultepec, • Capture of Mexico City, American Civil War

Winfield Scott. A towering figure in 19th-century America, he was a commanding general for two decades and a pivotal military strategist. His leadership during the Mexican–American War and his prescient Anaconda Plan for the American Civil War cemented his legacy. Known as "Old Fuss and Feathers" for his strict adherence to discipline and protocol, his career spanned from the War of 1812 to the dawn of modern warfare.

Early life and education

Born on his family's plantation, Laurel Branch, in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, he was the son of William Scott and Ann Mason Scott. After his father's death in 1791, his mother sent him to the College of William & Mary, though he left to study law in Petersburg, Virginia. He briefly practiced law but found his true calling after witnessing the Burr conspiracy trials in Richmond, Virginia, which inspired him to pursue a military career. He received a commission as a captain in the United States Army's Light artillery in 1808.

Military career

His early service was marked by a conflict with a superior officer, General James Wilkinson, which led to a court-martial and a suspension. He returned to duty before the War of 1812, serving on the frontier in Louisiana under Wade Hampton. His dedication to professional study of European tactics, particularly those of the French Army, set him apart from many contemporaries and formed the basis for his future military reforms and success.

War of 1812 and peacetime service

During the War of 1812, he was captured at the Battle of Queenston Heights but later exchanged. He trained troops at Buffalo, New York and played key roles at the Battle of Fort George and the Battle of Chippawa. Severely wounded at the Battle of Lundy's Lane, he earned a brevet promotion to major general. In the subsequent peace, he authored influential infantry manuals and oversaw the Eastern Division. He also commanded forces during the Black Hawk War and the Second Seminole War, where his campaign in the Everglades proved difficult.

Mexican–American War

Appointed commander of the southern expedition, he masterminded the first major amphibious assault in U.S. history at the Siege of Veracruz in 1847. His subsequent campaign inland is considered a classic of military strategy, winning decisive victories at the Battle of Cerro Gordo, Battle of Contreras, and Battle of Churubusco. After heavy fighting at Molino del Rey and the Battle of Chapultepec, his forces captured Mexico City, effectively ending the war. His triumph made him a national hero and he was honored with a Thanks of Congress and a gold medal.

1852 presidential election and later career

The Whig Party nominated him as their candidate in the 1852 presidential election. However, his campaign was hampered by his association with unpopular Whig policies and divisions over the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. He was decisively defeated by Franklin Pierce of the Democratic Party. Remaining as Commanding General of the United States Army, he became the first since George Washington to hold the rank of lieutenant general by a special act of Congress in 1855. He also served as an elder statesman, undertaking diplomatic missions to settle the Pig War dispute with Great Britain.

American Civil War and death

Though a Virginian, he remained loyal to the Union at the outbreak of the American Civil War. He devised the long-term strategic blueprint known as the Anaconda Plan, which aimed to suffocate the Confederacy via a naval blockade and control of the Mississippi River. His advanced age and poor health led to his retirement in late 1861, succeeded by George B. McClellan. He spent his final years writing his memoirs at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he died in 1866. He is interred at West Point Cemetery.

Category:1786 births Category:1866 deaths Category:United States Army personnel of the War of 1812 Category:United States Army personnel of the Mexican–American War Category:Whig Party (United States) presidential nominees