Winfield Scott

Definition

Winfield Scott was a U.S. Army general, and one of the most important American military figures of the early 19th century. He served as a general in the Mexican War and proposed the Anaconda Plan during Civil War.

Analogy

Think of Winfield Scott as a seasoned chess player who proposes a strategy to slowly corner his opponent's king rather than going for quick checkmates - that's what his Anaconda Plan was like.

Related terms

Anaconda Plan: A strategic plan proposed by Scott to blockade Southern ports and divide Confederacy along Mississippi River, aiming to strangle Southern resources.

Mexican-American War: A conflict between U.S. and Mexico (1846-1848) where Scott led successful campaigns, making him a national hero.

Battle of Veracruz: An important battle during Mexican-American war where General Scott successfully captured key port city Veracruz using innovative amphibious landing technique.