Home > American Civil War > Winfield Scott Biography

Born June 13, 1786
Petersburg, Virginia
Died May 27, 1866
West Point, New York

Union general in chief at the
beginning of the Civil War

Developed the "Anaconda Plan," which eventually
helped the Union win the war

Aveteran of the War of 1812 (1812–15), the Seminole Wars (1835–42), and the Mexican War (1846–48), General Winfield Scott had achieved the position of commander over all Federal forces when the Civil War began in 1861. His advanced age and poor health made it impossible for him to lead troops into combat personally, and he was forced to resign his position a few months after the war started. Before resigning, though, he developed a war strategy for the Union that helped it gain victory in the conflict. Scott's strategy helped cement his reputation as one of America's most successful military figures of the nineteenth century.