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Scott (WINFIELD an American military)

WINFIELD, an American military officer; born near Petersburg, Va., June 13, 1786; was educated at GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT William and Mary College, and studied law. In 1808 he was appointed captain of light artillery in General Wilkinson's division, stationed at Baton Rouge, La.; but was suspended for having accused his general of complicity with the conspiracy of Aaron Burr. At the commencement T-Cyc Vol 8 SCOTTDALE SCRANTON of the War of 1812 he was appointed two arts receiving most attention and the lieutenant-colonel and fought at Queenstown Heights. In 1813 he was promoted adjutant-general; in 1814, brigadiergeneral and brevet major-general. On July 3 he took Fort Erie, on the 5th fought the battle of Chippewa, and 20 days after, that of Lundy's Lane. He took part in the operations against the Seminoles and Creeks (1835-1837), in the Nullification disturbances in South Carolina, and in the Canadian revolt of 1837- 1838. In 1841 he was appointed commander-in-chief of the United States Army, and in 1846 commanded in the Mexican War. In 1847 he won the victories of Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Jalapa, Perote, Puebla, Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey and Chapultepec, and seized Mexico, Sept. 14. The same year he was brevetted lieutenant-general. In 1859 he was a commissioner to settle the San Juan dispute with Great Britain; and in 1852 was the unsuccessful candidate of the Whig party for the presidency. In 1862 he retired from the army, retaining, by special act of Congress, his pay and allowance. General Scott compiled the "General Regulations of the Army," and translated and adapted from the French the system of "Infantry Tactics" which was used as the textbook of the army. In 1864 he published his "Autobiography." He died in West Point, N. Y., May 29, 1866.