Description: One of the most important public figures in antebellum America, Winfield Scott is known today more for his swagger than his sword. "Old Fuss-and-Feathers" was a brilliant military commander whose tactics and strategy were innovative adaptations from European military theory; yet he was often under appreciated by his contemporaries and until recently overlooked by historians.
Brief description: Timothy D. Johnson is an associate professor of history at Lipscomb University in Nashville. He was a contributor to the books America at War and The Reader's Companion to Military History.
Review Quotes:
"A fascinating study of a nineteenth-century Douglas MacArthur. I'm extremely impressed by Johnson's writing style, ability to bring Scott's personality alive, clear explanations of the Army's command structure, and deft analyses of military strategy. His treatment of Scott's role in the War of 1812 and the Mexican War, the most significant phases of Scott's extended career, is especially astute."--Robert E. May, author of The Southern Dream of a Caribbean Empire, 1854-1861
"A fresh and engaging biography of 'Old Fuss and Feathers, ' who helped shape American history in the antebellum republic, only to be eclipsed by the generation of Civil War officers who learned the art of war from him. Will appeal to scholars and general readers alike."--Richard Bruce Winders, author of Mr. Polk's Army: The American Military Experience in the Mexican War