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'Old Fuss and Feathers' Gen. Winfield Scott. (National Archives)

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Gen. Winfield Scott

Now Almost Forgotten, Influential Scott Served 53 Years Under 14 Presidents

By Bethanne Kelly Patrick
Military.com Columnist

He had the longest active-duty career of any general in U.S. history, he was the last Whig candidate for president, and he personally commanded Abraham Lincoln's inaugural bodyguard. Yet today, few remember his name. Gen. Winfield Scott, whose deeds and duels brought him fame during his lifetime, in death seems fated to be overshadowed by Grant and Lee, Bradley and Eisenhower.

However, biographers and military historians agree that the careers and strategies of these famous military leaders owe much to Scott's. Interest in "Old Fuss and Feathers" -- so called for his love of military brass and dash -- has undergone a resurrection because his life resembles a timeline of American history. Born in 1786, Scott briefly studied law and attended the trial of Aaron Burr. In 1808, he decided to join the Army as a captain of cavalry.

At the outbreak of the War of 1812, Scott recruited a regiment and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He fought on the northern front and was captured and exchanged before taking part in the battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane. His conduct in the latter made him a national hero, and he was promoted to major general. After war's end, Scott devoted himself to the study of tactics, both in Europe and in New York, which became his unofficial headquarters.

He demonstrated his grasp of military method in several Indian campaigns, and his prowess led to his promotion to general-in-chief of the Army, a position he held from 1841 until his death. It was in this capacity that Scott won his greatest fame. Displeased with Gen. Zachary Taylor's 1847 performance in the Mexican War, Scott undertook a five-month campaign from the port of Veracruz to Mexico City, where his entrance ended the hostilities on Sept. 14, 1848.

When the Civil War began, the general-in-chief had served for 53 years under 14 presidents. While still an imposing figure at 6 feet 5 inches and 200-odd pounds, Scott's health had deteriorated, and he recognized that a younger man was needed to carry on his plans and leadership. The general laid down his command on Nov. 1, 1861, as his president acknowledged "how faithfully, ably, and brilliantly he has served his country, from a time far back in our history when few of the now living had been born." Scott died five years later at his favorite post, West Point, and is buried there.