The FReeper Foxhole Profiles General Winfield Scott - Nov 22nd, 2003

http://ngeorgia.com/people/scott.html ^

[SAMWolf]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
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FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.

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Winfield Scott
(1786 - 1866)

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No one person would have more influence on the United States Army during its first 100 years of existence than General Winfield Scott. Known as Old Fuss and Feathers because of his attention to detail and a penchant for gaudy uniforms, Winfield Scott fought in the War of 1812, the Blackhawk War, the Seminole Wars, the Mexican-American War, and the War for Southern Independence (American Civil War). A Civilian Conservation Corps park and lake bear the name of the man who oversaw the removal of the Cherokee from the state of Georgia.

Born of parents who were both wealthy and famous (his father was a hero in the American Revolution), Winfield Scott attended The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. The evolving upheaval in relations between the United States and Britain at the start of the 19th century ended an uninspired legal career for the six foot, five inch Scott.

During the War of 1812 Lt. Colonel Scott led a series of attacks against combined British and Canadian forces between Fort George and Fort Erie, on the Canadian side of the border west of Buffalo, New York. He was captured on October 11, 1812, in the rout of American forces during the Battle of Queenston Heights (near Niagra-on-the-Lake) and served time as a prisoner-of-war on the Canadian frontier. Scott and his longtime friend Captain John Wool fought in this battle. After his release the young officer returned to duty and fought throughout the region.


Battle of Lundy's Lane

At the Battle of Lundy's Lane, Scott was ambushed by a force of British regulars. Rather than retreat, Scott ordered an advance, which convinced the British commander that Scott's detachment was part of a larger army. The arrival of additional British troops halted their orderly retreat and the engagement continued. For more than two hours the 1300 men in Scott's command were under withering fire from the British. Less than 400 men were still fighting when American re-enforcement's arrived. Scott withdrew and reorganized his men, but while looking for a place to attack was hit with a bullet, shattering a bone. On July 25, 1814 the war ended for Winfield Scott. The Battle of Lundy's Lane ended a draw.

After the War he married, worked on military books and hobnobbed with New York society. Over the next 15 years the flamboyant Scott angered many of his peers, including future president Andrew Jackson.

Scott returned to active military duty in 1832 to fight in various "Indian Wars" and was called upon to replace John Wool as commander of Federal troops in the Cherokee Nation just prior to the Trail of Tears. Spreading from the Blue Ridge Mountains west to the Cumberland Plateau, the Cherokee had sworn in 1819 to give no more land to encroaching settlers. The United States Supreme Court agreed with the Cherokee's right to self-rule, but Andrew Jackson did not and in 1835 he convinced a small group of these American Indians to sign the Treaty of New Echota. General Wool had become disenchanted with the idea of forcing the Cherokee from their "Enchanted Land."



Receiving orders on April 6, 1838, Scott arrived at New Echota, Cherokee Nation that May and immediately began with his plans for removal. He divided the Nation into three military districts and The Cherokee were rounded up and herded into unsanitary "forts," one of which was named for the general. Nearly one-third of all the Cherokee deaths attributed to the Trail of Tears would come as a result of this confinement.

The first parties to leave Georgia suffered huge losses in both people and livestock, attempting to travel west in the scorching heat of summer. The Cherokee clearly viewed Scott as their "warden" when they appealed directly to him to postpone the removal until cooler months. "We, your prisoners, wish to speak to you...We have been made prisoners by your men but do not fight you..."



The appeal worked. Scott not only agreed to postpone the removal, he backed a proposal for the departing parties to be led by Cherokee chiefs rather than the U. S. Army. For this Winfield Scott expected, and got, an incredible backlash from the pro-removal forces. Even former President Andrew Jackson wrote to protest Scott's decision.

The general, in spite of serious personal problems, was determined to accompany a group of Cherokee west. He left Athens, Tennessee, on October 1, 1838, and continued with the Cherokee to Nashville, where he received orders to return to Washington.

During the Mexican War (1846-48) General Scott led a brilliant five month campaign which ended in his replacement because of problems with subordinate officers. Winfield Scott would be nominated for President by the Whigs in 1852 and lose in the general election to Franklin Pierce.


General Winfield Scott, commanding general of the Union Army
From the Collections of The Mariners' Museum

Even though the Civil War broke out after his 75th birthday the corpulent commander continue to lead his men. Too large to mount a horse, Scott formulated a detailed plan for the defeat of the Confederacy that included a blockade of southern ports. Some thought he was senile because the common belief on both sides was it would be a quick war. He was removed as commander by President Lincoln before the end of 1861, however, almost all of the elements of his "Anaconda Plan" would later be used by a desperate Lincoln in an attempt to win the war.


Major General Winfield Scott, "Old Fuss and Feathers"

When the original Medal of Honor was proposed in 1862 Scott came close to killing the idea. He was strongly against the European custom of awarding medals for heroism.

[SAMWolf]

Hi Manna!

[SAMWolf]

Morning aomagrat. What a career! Starts with 6 main gun turrets and ends with double 5 inch mounts.

This is the first time I heard about one of the BB's being refitted with dual 5 inchers.

The most famous HMS Agincourt was a battleship present at the Battle of Jutland. She was a unique vessel, laid down by Armstrongs at Newcastle upon Tyne as the Brazilian Rio De Janerio in September 1911. The order was cancelled in 1912, but the design modified and sold to the Turkish navy in January 1914 as Sultan Osman I. She was completed in August 1914, just before the First World War. The war broke out before delivery, whilst she was undergoing trials, even after the Turkish crew had arrived to collect her and she was seized by the British Government for incorporation into the Royal Navy.

At the same time a second Turkish battleship was also taken over - Reshadieh (renamed HMS Erin). This caused much ill-feeling in Turkey, particularly as these ships had been partially funded by public subscription. This was an important factor in turning public opinion against Great Britain, and a major cause of Turkey (and its Ottoman Empire) joining the war on the side of Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire against the Triple Entente of Great Britain, France and Russia two months later.

She was an unusual ship in having seven main in-line turrets. She was poorly armoured in comparison with her armament, having just 9 inches maximum belt thickness compared with 12 or more which would have been more appropriate for her armament. She would have been classified as a battlecruiser but for her low speed. By the time that she was built, her 12 inch guns were becoming obselete - most capital ships under construction having larger calibres. Her outline design was produced by the chief designer of Armstrongs, Eustace d'Eyncourt, in his hotel bedroom in Brazil.

Modifications were made before she was commisioned in the Royal Navy. In particular a flying-off deck for seaplanes was removed. She was part of the First Battle Squadron at Jutland, which she survived unscathed. She was reallocated to the Second Battle Squadron in 1918 and decommissioned in 1919. After unsuccessful attempts to sell her to the Brazilian Government she was recomissioned as a depot ship before being decommissioned again in 1921 and scrapped in 1924.

[SAMWolf]

Hiya Feather.

[SAMWolf]

Good morning Darksheare

[SAMWolf]

Morning Mayor. Good morning for relaxing with a hot cup of coffee.

[The Mayor]

Hi Sam, it's rather nice here in Buffalo. Gonna be 50 and sunny. Not a bad day for Nov 22nd.

[SAMWolf]

1958 Jamie Lee Curtis Los Angeles CA, actress (Halloween, True Lies)

SIGHHHHHHHHHHH!

[SAMWolf]

Morning w_over_w.

Patton believed in reincarnation, don't know if he ever said he was Winfield Scott though.

[SAMWolf]

You're warmer than we are right now, we've been only managing the 40's the last couple of days. You still call this "Indian Summer" back there?

[manna]

Hi everybody (and SAM)!

[The Mayor]

"Indian Summer"

I think so..

[Darksheare]

Morning.
Quantas, the only way to get to Australia...

[SAMWolf]

Didn't know if that had become "Un-PC" in the last 10 years.

[WaterDragon]

A very satisfying read today about Winfield Scott. I always learn something new (lots of new!) about the subject of these threads!

The Cherokees were an unusual people, determined to assimilate and become like the Americans. Even today, many of them I've met are pretty extraordinary.

Thanks for a great post today, SAM and snippy!

And a good Saturday morning to everyone!

[SAMWolf]

Morning WaterDragon.

The Cherokees were an unusual people, determined to assimilate and become like the Americans.

Sadly, it didn't end up doing them much good, they still were mistreated and persecuted.

[WaterDragon]

I know, and it is very sad. Even the Supreme Court tried to block the horror of the removal.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning SAM.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning feather.

[snippy_about_it]

Mornin' Darksheare.

[snippy_about_it]

Speaking of Santa Ana...

LOL! Nice lead in!