Winfield Scott: The Civil War in Four Minutes

Join Historian Gary Gallagher as he describes the great, yet often overlooked, General Winfield Scott and the impacts his strategies ultimately had upon the American Civil War. Watch now to learn about Scott's career and how he spent the rest of his days. This video is part of the American Battlefield Trust's In4 video series, which presents short videos on basic Civil War topics.

[gf]

He was quite literally towering. At 6'5" he was a giant in the 19th Century.

[Aiden_Rourke]

Old Fuss and Feathers. Just learned about General Winfield Scott. And the more I read about him, the more I love him.

[jmccallion]

Always great to hear and learn from Dr Gallagher! What a historian! The historian's historian!

[timdh-]

Ok this was a man who went out on top!...he was still mentally sharp and contributed in a major way but he also grew wisdom and knew when it was time to step aside.

[chiptenor]

Great video; very informative. I've known of general Scott, but never as you've described. Quite a figure in our history. Thanks.

[aymathest]

Thanks, doing a report on him, videos like these help

[michaeldouglas]

Bwahaha. "He was a mass of decaying flesh" i couldnt help but crack up on that one Gary

[danepatterson]

I love your insight, perspective, and narration. Thank you

[devonmiller]

This guy is my ancestor so I'm watching this to learn about him

[niyanyree]

He’s my very very great great grandfather.. came to learn about him

[donb]

My 3X grandfather and his son served with Scott at the battle of Lundy Lane, in the battle for Fort Niagara, where Winfield Scott was wounded.

[peterrobertson]

First, I just LOVE Gary Gallagher. More importantly, I 100% agree that Scott does not receive his due. He is a towering figure in US Military history, and I'm not referring to his height. Generals who could combine the ability to develop grand strategy, who had the discipline and rigor to prosecute strategy through tactical excellence, who had the imagination to coordinate and wield different branches of service, who understood political realities and consequences ... well, those men are rare. From the Civil War, there were only two General Officers from either side who excelled by that standard; Scott and Grant - my apologies to Lee affcionados, but the facts are the facts. His Mexican campaign was brilliant, and the Anaconda Plan was the undoing of the Confederacy once it was placed into Grant's capable hands. Scott's contribution to Union success in that conflict trailed only Lincoln and Grant, a remarkable statement for a General who never stepped on the field of battle in that conflict.

[Apaleutos]

Winfield was genius! Too bad he was too old during the American Civil War, otherwise the war might have finished faster!

[dougputhoff]

I remember Scott usually referring to himself in the third person from Bruce Catton's THIS HALLOWED GROUND (mandatory reading for ACW buffs.

[Abdus_VGC]

In my research, it has been proven that McClellan suspected Major General Winfield Scott as a traitor to the union cause because of him being a Virginian and thus was ever skeptical about the early engagements that happened and it was sad that Lincoln too didn't do him the favour of not refortifying Fort Sumter. Ulysses Grant's view of total war from various front is a culmination of ideas of Scott which he adored as a role model back in his US Military Academy days.
Long Live Major General Winfield Scott

[Brighim]

My great great great something grandfather, one of histories forgotten heroes.

[Nelson-rhog]

"Old fuss and feathers" Winfield Scott nickname

[aleksandarvil]

He Also Stopped _The Pig's War_ from Happening.

[MrJoebrooklyn]

He was not replaced by Meade.
Also, many people in the comments are saying they are related to him. I am not. My family was still in Italy.

[elimumm]

civil war music as in field music (fife drum bugle) or brass bands