OPPapers.com

Winfield Scott

Abstract

Winfield Scott was a true American hero. Serving in 3 wars and numerous other battles and conflicts, he left a legacy that was talked about for over 5 decades. He served in the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Civil War. He began his military career and advanced quickly in the ranks. He was a formidable leader and very studious in military tactics. A big man, he stood at 61/2 feet tall, and demanded respect both when in uniform and without. He was referred to as "Old Fuss and Feathers" because of his regard for military procedures and wear of military uniforms. He wrote the first complete manual of military tactics in the U.S. Army in 1825. He later expanded it with the completion of Infantry Tactics in 1835. These manuals helped to form the basis for some of our modern day military tactics. A combination of literary works, and online resources was used for the information in this paper.

Winfield Scott was one of America's most prominent and honored war heroes. Serving in The United States Army for over 50 years, Scott experienced the throes of battle in three different wars. Winfield Scott served in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War (1832), the Mexican War (1846-1848), and the American Civil War (1861-1865), (The World Book Encyclopedia, 2004). This paper will discuss Winfield Scott's life during some the most historic time in The United States, and will show how his actions helped to form our military tactics.
Winfield Scott was born on June 13, 1876, near Petersburg, Virginia. Being very ambitious, Scott went to the William and Mary College to study law. When he joined the United States Army in 1808, Scott's ambition to become a lawyer subsided and subsequently, he began to focus on military and political ambitions.
Scott quickly honed his military skills and was promoted to Captain of the artillery (Harbert, 1986). At the age of twenty-six, Scott harshly described and ridiculed the officers and soldiers of that era...