Title

Agent of destiny : the life and times of General Winfield Scott

Description

Historian John S.D. Eisenhower, author of So Far From God and The Bitter Woods, explores the facets of Scott's career and the ways he shaped - and was shaped by - the goals and ambitions of a young republic. As Eisenhower vividly demonstrates, American history cannot be fully understood without an appreciation of Scott's life and influence.He not only presided over America's territorial expansion and, reluctantly, over the relocation of American Indians during the episode known as the Trail of Tears, but also played a leading role in the development of the United States Army from a tiny, loosely organized, politics-dominated establishment to a disciplined professional force capable of effective and sustained campaigning.Scott's career was not an uninterrupted series of successes. He was the hero of two major wars and the diplomat who prevented at least three other potential wars with Britain. Yet during his fifty years of service, Scott was placed before a military court three times and once even convicted, incurring a year's suspension from the army. He was roundly defeated when he ran for president in 1852. As Eisenhower's careful study discloses, some of Scott's troubles were created by his own political ambitions.But Scott the General was a person of monumental proportions and the key agent of America's Manifest Destiny.

Identifier

804117

684844516

Creator

Eisenhower, John S D

Source

Brian Lamb Booknotes Collection

Gift of Brian Lamb, 2011.

Catalog record

Language

eng

Date

1997

Program air date: April 19, 1998

Publisher

Free Press

George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives

Text

Transcription of Annotations

Notes on front endpapers, and flysheet: P. 225 “a hasty plate of soup” a letter that humiliated Scott. Eramus Keyes--the salt. Vanity, ambitious, jealousy, admire his wife/often separated. Major Francis L. Dade (1835). Fort Eustis. Sec. of War (1837) Poinsett. General Andrew Jackson, General William Henry Harrison, Captain Robert E. Lee, General Zach Taylor, General Frank Pierce, U.S. Grant. d. 1866--80 yrs. old. 52 yrs. a military man and general, served 14 Presidents. b. June 13, 1786, d. 1866. “Old Fuss and Feathers”--Scott sometimes called. War of 1812--June 18--not universally popular p 25. The Blackhawk War--1832--Rock Is. Ill. The Seminole War-1836 (7 years). The Mexican War-1846-47. The Civil War--1861. 1852 Scott Whig candidate for President, lost to Franklin Pierce. Scott's memoirs--when did he publish. How did military operate in early 1800's. Congress' approval of promotion, number of generals ever changing troop levels. Scott attended Catholic Services Sunday April 1847--(p 245)hurt his chances for Whig nomination. Married March 11, 1816--total of 7 children. Wife--Maria Mayo--4 daughters 1838 departed for Europe. Virginia dies Aug 26, 1845. Cornelia, Adeline Camilla, Marcella. “William Henry Harrison bilking the Indians of their land” p 23. The Trail of Tears--13,000 Indians removed, 4,000 died. P. 191 The Cherokees--Georgia--collection camps. Scot tried to minimize suffering. Possible duels between Scott and Jackson; Scott and De Witt Clinton. Scott's court-martial. Black Hawk--cholera--54 dead--Iowa/Wisconsin created. Scott--thought he had cholera. 1812-Scott wounded-1814 takes command in D.C. Treaty of Ghent--Dec 24, 1814. Civil War fighting done by volunteers p383. Henry Adams--History of the United States. I grew up living on Shawnee Ave./just a few blocks from Tecumseh Junior High School in Tippecanoe County. Harrison High/Jefferson High/ in Lafayette. McClellan replaced McDowell in Northern Virginia after defeat at Bull Run--appointed directly by Lincoln. McClellan blasts Scott p 395. Notes on back fixed endpaper: Last Whig candidate ever. Electoral votes 254/42/1.6 to 1.3 mil. Election of 1852 against Pierce (a drunk?) they exploited 1. Old Fuss and Feathers; 2. Court Marshall of 1809 (43 yrs earlier); 3. Unfortunate clash with Jackson--duel; 4. Scott's challenge to Dewitt Clinton; 5. Mocked his wound at Lundy's ; 6. Slips of verbiage “fire upon my rear,” “hasty plate of soup.” Notes/Underlinings: Notes: “Manifest destiny,” “Architects--James Madison--attempted to annex Canada-1812; Andrew Jackson--Indians removed to West; John Tyler--settled border--Maine/Canada; James K. Polk--settled boundary between US and Canada-1845 War with Mexico; James Buchanan--San Juan Island in Puget Sound. The Builder--Winfield Scott.” “6'5”,” “Aaron Burr not guilty,” “War Hawks,” “tensions bring War of 1812,” “British behind Indians,” “May 12, 1812,” “Declaration of War,” “colonel of the regiment at 26,” “Oct 1814 fit for duty,” “Scott assumes command at D.C.,” “3 year leave of absence,” “Paris dinner,” “Jackson and Scott 1817 incident,” “mutinous,” “Scott's letter to Jackson,” “Black Hawks,” “Cholera, 54 men dead,” “the salt,” “John Marshall and the Indians,” “collection camps,” “1841 General in chief of U.S. Army,” “12,600 men on rolls,” “1842 8613 men,” “Scott 57 1844,” “wife returns from Europe,” “daughter dies,” “June 8, 1845 Jackson dies,” “Polk a Democrat, Scott a Whig,” “Generals were all Whigs,” “hasty plate of soup, humiliated,” “courting Z. Taylor for '48,” “Scott 32 yrs. a general age 62,” “largest amphibious expedition,” “3 ways to attack,” “an active siege,” “opened fire,” “Catholic services,” “Scott's strength 8,500 men,” “Santa Anna escaped capture,” “Anna's bribe accepted,” “Sept 1847,” “9 months occupation of Mexico City,” “Gideon Johnson Pillow,” “Scott should be superseded,” “General Order #9,” “relief of duties in Mex.,” “Scott went quietly,” “Scott trial,” “Pillow acquitted,” “choice of Taylor over Scott for Whig candidate,” “moved from D.C. to New York,” “Baltimore convention,” “53 ballots Whig candidate,” “Pierce accused of drunkenness, 'fainting general',” “great disappointment,” “John Brown,” “Scott supervised security for Linc.,” “7 cotton states,” “Scott's proposals,” “Lee for Scott,” “Virginia Union troops,” “New Generals,” “MC complains about Scott,” “asked to retire,” “Scott resigned Oct 31, 1861,” “McClellan sees Scott off at train station,” “53 yrs under 14 Pres 13 as a General,” “trip to Europe, LeHavre,” “7 Scott children,” “wife dies,” “April '62 Lincoln's last visit with Scott,” “writing,” “he was 77 in 1863, Memoirs,” “May 1866 West Point . . .buried at W.P. June 1, 1866.” Underlinings: p. [vii] Lamb underlines portions of 4 quotations on Scott. Details on Scott's career, the presidents he served, family, education, physical description, wars, career, promotions, court-martial, wounds, study of military in Europe, friendships, relationship with Cherokees on removal, politics, Mexico, Civil War

Subject

"Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866."

"United States. Army--Biography."

"Generals--United States--Biography."

"Mexican War, 1846-1848--Biography."

Relation

Original Booknotes interview

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