Winfield Mason Scott (1786 - 1866)

Born 13 Jun 1786 in Laurel Branch Plantation, Dinwiddie County, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Maria (Mayo) Scott — married 25 Mar 1817 in Belleville, Virginia

Descendants

Died 29 May 1866 at age 79 in West Point, New York, United States

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Biography

Winfield Scott is Notable.

Winfield Scott was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal in the War of 1812.

Lt General Winfield Scott served in the United States Army in the War of 1812
Service started:
Unit(s): Post 66 Webster City, Iowa
Service ended:

Winfield Scott served with the United States Army during the Mexican-American War
Service Started:
Unit(s):
Service Ended:

Lt General Winfield Scott served in the United States Civil War.
Side: USA

United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852. At a height of 6'5", he remains the tallest man ever nominated by a major party. Over the course of his 53-year career, he commanded forces in the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War, the Mexican-American War, the Second Seminole War, and, briefly, the American Civil War.

Winfield Scott was born to William Scott (1747–1789) and Anna Mason (1748–1803) on Laurel Branch, the family plantation in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, near Petersburg, Virginia, on June 13, 1786. He was commissioned as a captain in the Light Artillery in May 1808. He married Maria D. Mayo (1789-June 10, 1862) in 1817. For his success in the battles of Chippewa and Niagara he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

Although Scott was born and raised in Virginia, he remained loyal to the nation that he had served for most of his life and refused to resign his commission, unlike Robert E. Lee. He remained in the army until he resigned on November 1, 1861, after his "Anaconda Plan" was rejected. He died at West Point, New York on May 29, 1866 and is buried in West Point Cemetery.

Headstone photo--Burial: United States Military Academy Post Cemetery West Point, Orange County, New York, USA., Plot: Section 26, Row A, Grave 16^[1]

While some may believe that retired United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is a descendant of Winfield Scott, it does not appear to be the case. Winfield only had girls who did not carry on the name, and Sandra's ancestor around this era was a John Scott, father of Jonathan Scott who was born 1809. Five U.S. states have named counties in Gen. Scott's honor: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Virginia.

• US Civil War Officer Profiles

Name: Winfield Scott State Served: Regular Army Highest Rank: Lieutenant General Birth Date: 1786 Death Date: 1866 Birth Place: Petersburg, Virginia Army: Union Promotions: Promoted to Brevet Lieut Genl (General in Chief of Army) Biography: WINFIELD SCOTT

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 '30s, 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.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 8

1850 Census

Name: Genl winfield Scott

Age: 62

Birth Year: abt 1788

Birthplace: New York

Home in 1850: New York Ward 15 Eastern half, New York, New York, USA

Gender: Male

Family Number: 1193

Household Members:

Name Age

Genl winfield Scott 62

Maria Scott 60

Cornelia Scott 24

Henry Scott 40

Camilla Scott 19

Ellen Scott 16

Bridget Malone 50

Ann Brady 20

John Rooney 40

Source Citation

Year: 1850; Census Place: New York Ward 15 Eastern half, New York, New :York; Roll: M432_552; Page: 228A; Image: 466

1860 Census

Name: Winfield Scott

Age: 70

Birth Year: abt 1790

Gender: Male

Birth Place: Virginia

Home in 1860: New York Ward 15 District 3, New York, New York

Post Office: New York

Family Number: 937

Value of real estate: View image

Household Members:

Name Age

Winfield Scott 70

Cornelia Scott 67

Henry L Scott 30

Cornelia Scott 28

Winfield Scott 9

Mlinia Hmebalt 22

Ptk Gogen 40

Mary Gogen 25

Mary H Gogen 11/12

Ptk Kelly 40

Peter Ocanoff 24

Anna Kelly 24

Source Citation

Year: 1860; Census Place: New York Ward 15 District 3, New York, New York; :Roll: M653_805; Page: 448; Image: 428; Family History Library Film: 803805

• Burial Record

Name: Lieut General Winfield Scott Birth Date: abt 1786 Death Date: 29 May 1866 Death Place: West Point Age at Death: 80'

Plot: Section 26, Row A, Grave 16

Source Information The Charles R. Hale Collection. Hale Collection of Connecticut Cemetery Inscriptions. Hartford, Connecticut: Connecticut State Library.

Legacy

• Five U.S. states have counties named in Winfield Scott's honor. They are: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Virginia.
• Iowa’s G. A. R. Post #66 of Webster City was named for Winfield Scott.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/938/winfield-scott
2. ↑ Iowa GAR Posts

• 2 photos of his headstone-Memorial find a grave

• Wikipedia

Photo: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/dag/item/2004664048/