Scott, Winfield, major-general, was born in Petersburg,
Va., June 13, 1786. After spending two years in William and
Mary college he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1806,
and the following year went to Charleston with the intention of
settling there, but before he had fairly entered upon the
practice of his profession, Congress in view of imminent
hostilities with England, passed a bill to enlarge the army and
he obtained a commission as captain of light artillery and
entered upon his career as a soldier. Recruiting a company he
was stationed at Baton Rouge, La., in the division commanded by
Gen. Wilkinson. War having been declared against Great Britain
in June, 1812, Capt. Scott was made a lieutenant-colonel in the
2nd artillery the following month, and was stationed at Black
Rock with two companies of his regiment. Taking part in the
battle of Queenstown heights, the field was at first won under
his direction; but it was finally lost and himself and his
command taken prisoners, from the refusal of the troops at
Lewiston to cross to their assistance. Exchanged in Jan.,
1813, immediately after the capture of York, Upper Canada,
Scott rejoined the army on the frontier as adjutant to Gen.
Dearborn, with the rank of colonel. He took part in the
expedition against Fort George; landed his men in good order
and scaled a steep height in the presence of the enemy,
carrying the position at the point of the bayonet. He served
well in Wilkinson's campaign, was made a brigadier-general in
March, 1814, and immediately thereafter established a camp of;
instruction at Buffalo, where his own and other officers were
drilled into thorough and accurate discipline. He now served a
vigorous and brilliant campaign, being present at the taking of
Fort Erie, winning the battle of Chippewa, and doing good
service at Lundy's lane, where he was twice severely wounded.
For his gallant conduct Scott was brevetted major-general, his
commission dating July 25, 1814, the day of the battle of
Lundy's lane. He also received a gold medal from Congress and
was tendered a position in the cabinet as secretary of war,
which he declined. He led the troops in the Black Hawk war of
1832, and the latter part of the same year went south to
command the national troops at Charleston and elsewhere, during
the nullification excitement, where his prudence, tact, and
discretion, saved the country from what seemed the inevitable
danger of intestine war. In 1835 he was ordered to Florida,
but recalled and employed in the Creek war, and afterward sent
before a court of inquiry, but dismissed with honor. In the
frontier troubles connected with the Canadian rebellion of
1837, and subsequently with the disputes two years later on the
northeastern boundary line, and with the removal of the
Cherokees from Georgia in the 30's, Gen. Scott was efficient,
conciliating and useful, as an officer and negotiator. In
1841, upon the death of Gen. Macomb, Gen. Scott was placed at
the head of the army as general-in-chief, with full rank as
major-general, and upon the outbreak of the war with Mexico he
was ordered thither. The battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la
Palma, and Monterey having been fought he took the field in
time for the projected capture of Vera Cruz, which he invested
on March 12, 1847, commencing the bombardment on the 22nd. On
the 26th overtures of surrender were made, and ten days later
the army moved on to Mexico, defeated the Mexican army under
Gen. Santa Anna, at Cerro Gordo on April 18; entered Jalapa the
day after; occupied the strong castle and town of La Perote on
the 22nd, and the city of Puebla May 15. Contreras, San
Antonio, and Churubusco, strong fortifications, were each taken
in turn at the point of the bayonet, Molino del Rey and Casa de
Mata, dependencies of Chapultepec, were carried by assault on
Sept. 8, and, after a determined siege of several days a breach
was finally effected in the strong walls of the military
college at the castle of Chapultepec, and the following night
Santa Anna marched out with the small remnant of his army, and
the city of Mexico was at the mercy of Scott. This virtually
ended the war, and the honors bestowed upon the successful
commander by his country were numerous and enthusiastic, and
included a vote of thanks by Congress. In 1848 Gen. Scott was
a candidate for the Whig nomination for the presidency, and in
1852 was nominated, but he was defeated at the election by Gen.
Franklin Pierce. In Feb., 1855, he was brevetted lieutenant-
general, to take rank from March 29, 1847, in commemoration of
his bravery in Mexico. The Civil war found him still in
command of the army, and every inducement was offered him by
the South to join their cause; but his loyalty was proof
against them, and he threw the weight of his well-earned
reputation upon the side of the government. During the early
part of the war Gen. Scott was much in consultation with the
government, and did his best to perform his official duties as
general-in-chief, but he was now too infirm for so colossal a
charge, and on Oct. 31, 1861, he retired from office,
retaining, by special act of Congress, his pay and allowances.
He died at West Point, N.Y., on May 29, 1866.