Winfield Scott (1786-1866) was arguably the premier soldier of his era. More than any other, he was responsible for the professionalization of the U.S. Army during his long career (1807-61). He served as general in the War of 1812, commander of the U.S. forces in the final campaign of the war with Mexico, and general in chief at the beginning of the Civil War. Scott was known for his boldness and courage during the War of 1812 and wisdom and caution in his direction of the Mexico campaign. Author Allan Peskin's research in the National Archives unearthed records from the War Department that support his portrayal of General Scott as a forward-looking managerial officer who accurately foresaw the coming of dramatic changes in technology and business principles for the military. Peskin also examines Scott's role in the political arena during the 1850s and his unsuccessful bid for the presidency as the nominee of the Whig party. Winfield Scott and the Profession of Arms is a balanced and thorough biography of this long-neglected military figure. Scholars and military historians will welcome its significant contributions to the literature.
