Agent Of Destiny : The Life And Times Of General Winfield Scott
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
It's about time somebody wrote a biography of Winfield Scott, and reading this fascinating account by accomplished military historian John S. D. Eisenhower, you'll wonder why nobody did it sooner. Scott's career spanned an astonishing 54 years and he spent most of it as a general. He was one of the few American heroes to emerge from the War of 1812; he launched a daring and successful invasion of Mexico in 1847; and he defended a vulnerable Washington, D.C., during the first months of the Lincoln administration in 1861. Scott was a profoundly courageous man with a flair for the organizational side of military life. Yet an unseemly amount of ambition and vanity marred his character, even as these qualities help make him an interesting subject for Eisenhower (who is, you guessed it, the son of Ike). Agent of Destiny is a skilled portrait of a man who is often overshadowed by the generation of Civil War leaders following him. Eisenhower deserves our thanks for writing this magnificent book about a vital figure.
The Atlantic Monthly, Phoebe-Lou Adams
Winfield Scott (1786-1866), after some frittering with a law career, joined the Army and came to prominence in the War of 1812, when he actually won a battle in the United States' bumbling attack on the Canadian border. He was one of the most notable of the young men who replaced those relics of the Revolution still in control of military affairs. The other was Andrew Jackson, and the two bumped heads off and on for years. When not engaged in winning the Mexican War and similar military duties, Scott dabbled in politics--unsuccessfully. He had an incorrigible habit of speaking his mind. When the Civil War broke out, he had been in command of the Army for many years and was too fat to mount a horse and in poor health generally. He was replaced by the overcautious George B. McClellan. He had, however, a varied, exciting, most useful career, and his biographer makes a fine story of it. Mr. Eisenhower, a retired brigadier general and a former ambassador with sound Washington connections, understands and clearly explains both military actions and the politics lurking behind them. One learns, among other things, that the partisan habit of angling for the next election while ignoring current problems was well entrenched so long ago that it should probably be considered respectable. Mr. Eisenhower has the right touch for a biographer; he gives the impression that he thoroughly enjoyed learning about his subject and is delighted to share a great story with his readers.
Agent Of Destiny : The Life And Times Of General Winfield Scott
Agent Of Destiny: The Life And Times Of General Winfield Scott,John Eisenhower,Free Press,0684844516,1786-1866,Biography,Biography & Autobiography,Biography / Autobiography,Biography/Autobiography,Generals,Historical - U.S.,Mexican War, 1846-1848,Military,Scott, Winfield,,U.S. History - Constitutional Period To Civil War (1789-1860),United States,Biography & Autobiography / Historical,Biography: general,Scott, Winfield,USA,Warfare & Defence
Books Report:
Recommended Books