Customer Reviews

Agent of Destiny: The Life and Times of General Winfield Scott

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Outstanding biography about one of the most important figures in early U.S. military history by one of the finest military historians writing today. General Scott's engaging humanity in all its noblest -- and sometimes ignoble -- forms comes through very clearly in this much-needed biography. Author Eisenhower's wry comments, exemplary writing quality, and impeccable research make reading the story of Scott's life a pleasure from cover to cover. "So Far From God," Eisenhower's history of the Mexican War, 1846-48 (and Gen. Scott's triumphal campaign through Mexico), is currently out of print. This state of affairs should be instantly rectified, if for no other reason than to give this paramount moment in Winfield Scott's military career its proper place on the bookshelf next to John S.D. Eisenhower's wonderful biography of his life.

In a climate where even the most obscure historical characters have been chronicled many(sometimes too many) times, it's incredible that not more has been written about Winfield Scott. This man's career in uniform spanned over 50 years, it's the equivalent of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs today having entered the armed forces in World War II as a private. A lesson for all of us who tend to read mainly about the "big' events of our nation's history; there were so many smaller conflicts and events that eventually lead up to the Civil War, border conflicts with the Canadians and British,the Seminole Wars, etc., and Scott was there for all of it.<P>John Eisenhower doesn't quite have his son's flair for the written word, but he is a meticulous researcher, and the chapters flow seamlessly together. He has not just written a fine book on a facinating character, but has also written about an under reported, turbulent time in our nation's history.

This book is about the early Republic's leading career Army officer, a man whose many accomplishments over a 50-year span definitely deserves a full biography. The author covers the battles well and provides some insight into period politics, but does not adequately cover Scott's domestic life (such as done in Remini's excellent biography of Henry Clay) and many years are passed by without any mention or barely a mention of Scott's activities, especially during the turbulent 1850's. For example, the book covers the years 1853-1859 in just six pages. It is gratifying to see a biography of this great warrior, but it will be even more rewarding when a more complete, definitive account is undertaken. From what material is provided, the reader is relieved that such a military genius, but political innocent, did not attain the highest office in the land (e.g., Zachary Taylor, Ulysses Grant).

I still haven't finished reading this page turning book. I have 2 chapters left and so far I have not been disappointed. Winfield Scott served his country well and I would hope that he has not been lost to history. This book brings to life this mans place in history. I enjoyed the chapters concerning his role in the American-Mexican War and I would like to read this authors book on that conflict, a shame it's no longer available. Buy this book and enjoy, recommended reading!

Eisenhower's attempt at a biography of General Winfield Scott misses its mark somewhat. He provides the reader with an excellent insight to the political manueverings and sentiments of the era, but we miss the details of Scott's personality that led him to the decisions he made.
I also agree with one of the previous reviewers that the lack of discussion of Scott's tactics and the mindset behind these tactics was a great disappointment. I picked up this book thinking it would delve into Scott's masterful use of tactics and was left disappointed.
This book is a good read for an overall review of the antebellum era and the events that shaped the country prior to the Civil War, but it lacks the depth of inquiry I was hoping to find in regards to General Scott.

Eisenhower has made an important contribution to American historical biography in this overdue story of the life of Winfield Scott. It was astounding to read about the wide range of events in which Scott played a major role from 1812 through the Civil War. Whatever the justification for the Mexican War, his campaign from Vera Cruz to Mexico City, after severing his lines of supply and communication and with a force the fraction of the size of the opposition, was one of the great feat of arms of any era. Eisenhower is succinct and exciting in his description of that campaign.

This biography of General Winfield Scott is lacking from a number of perspectives. First, there is a total lack of military analysis - the author merely states what Scott did but never in much depth and without an assessment of his strategy or tactical abilities. We never learn how Scott evolved from a lawyer into a soldier - what was his military education, how did he evolve as a soldier over a 40 year career. How did he view new technologies like railroads and rifled artillery? Second, Scott appears as a cardboard character here with little or no personal depth. What were his views on subjects such as slavery, tariffs, the Indians? His family relations are virtually ignored - why did his wife spend so much time in Europe? Instead, the author spends far too much time on Scott's political ambitions and his intra-service rivalries and bickering. This is not what he is remembered for and should not be the primary focus for a military biography. Scott was probably one of the best generals the United States has ever produced, particularly in light of the superb Mexico City campaign, and his generalship should be center stage in a biography, not low-level barracks intrigue. Finally, the notion that Scott was the agent of manifest destiny is unsupported; he was a dutiful soldier, not an imperialist. Maps were inadequate to follow Scott's battles.

Before I read Agent of Destiny I knew of Winfield Scott only as the old man in a uniform at the beginning of the American Civil War. John Eisenhower introduced me to a man unlike any I have known in American annals. A generals stars through 13 presidents, 50+ years of service, the hero of the Mexican War of 1846-48. I agree with John Eisenhower . . . The greatest American General!

Agent of Destiny: The Life and Times of General Winfield Scott by John S. D. Eisenhower is, while a bit misnamed, an excellent introduction to both the history and culture of the 19th century army and General Winfield Scott.

Most Americans remember Winfield Scott as the General who made an amphibious landing on the east coast of Mexico and marched to Mexico City. Since that is about the sum of what is taught in 11th Grade American History class, that is where most reasonably well read American's knowledge of Winfield Scott stops. Reading this book is a good first step in rediscovering the man who defined the culture and professional competency of the 19th Century American Army.

While this book has some glaring weaknesses, it does introduce the casual reader to some interesting ideas and arguments.

First, the near complete destruction of the U S Army under Gen "Mad" Anthony Wayne by Shawnee Indians in the early 1790's. While I knew that the nomative War Chief of the Shawnees - believe his name was Simon Gurdy, but my memory may be off - was a white man who held a reserve commission in the British Army, I did not realize that this was one of the incidents that led to the War of 1812. The idea that as recent as the 1790's some of the Indian tribes had enough firepower and resources to crush the bulk of the U S Army in a single battle both shows the relative strength of those particular Indian tribes and the grotesque incompetence of most American military leadership of the time.

Second, America is a country that is at its best when it is a country of second chances that believes in forgiveness as much as accountability. Winfield Scott started off his military career by being courts martialed for calling a senior general a traitor. Even though this was probably a true statement, this was not an auspicious beginning. Likewise, from the book it appears as if Winfield Scott actually led his brigade into a slaughter at the battle of Lundy Lane. Yet, he retained his rank as a Brigadier General. That combined with his youth almost ensured that at some point in the future he would become the commanding general of the
U S Army. That somewhat fortuitous set of facts turned out to be pretty beneficial for the United States in not only Winfield Scott's peacetime efforts, but also in his skillful handling of the Mexican American War. Clearly, the Winfield Scott who led his brigade to slaughter in 1812 was not the one who skillfully defeated an Army in a foreign land when outnumbered three to one.

Third, there are a series of important ideas and debates that have shaped and, to a certain extant, continue to shape the U S Army. All of these debates are touched upon - although Eisenhower does not elaborate - in this book. What sort of military does America need when all of its peer competitors are so distant in terms of space and time? What is the role of conventional forces and special forces, this question first comes to light in the various Indian campaigns in Florida and Georgia. What is the proper role of "regular" forces versus "reserve" or "volunteer" forces? Perhaps the last is an important question today in Iraq. Indeed, Eisenhower's discussions of "red legged" infantry in Florida made me think about modern day Iraq where Armor and Artillery soldiers are serving in counter-insurgency missions.

Fourth, Winfield Scott was a much better peacemaker than war maker. I lost count of the number of times that Winfield Scott negotiated away potential conflict between the United Kingdom and the U S. The last was after he had retired when RADM Wilkes - famous from the U S Exploring Expedition - had initiated an international incident by seizing two British diplomats from a Confederate ship. Moreover, Winfield Scott's role in diffusing the "Nullification Crises", perhaps, shaped the nature of American history forever. If South Carolina had left the Union in the 1820s, it is possible that the Civil War might have happened three decades earlier. It is likely that without those thirty years of industrial development and the various crises in 1840s Europe to feed Northern population growth, the South just might have won that hypothetical Civil War.

None of these topics are really expanded upon. However, this is a good book for a basic introduction to Winfield Scott and 19th Century U S Army. I highly recommend it as a primer to begin to learn more.

"Old Fuss and Feathers", Winfield Scott, is one of the most important soldiers in American history. He was breveted a Brigadier General during the War of 1812, his shadow passes across all of the American Army's actions during the first half of the 19th Century, and before retiring he came up with "The Anaconda Plan" as a strategy to win the Civil War.

But there is no decent biography of this great historic figure. And AGENT OF DESTINY falls far short of the mark.

Sure, it is meticulously researched. In fact, it is more researched than written. Eisenhower wrote SO FAR FROM GOD about the Mexican War; AGENT OF DESTINY seems to be an expansion of that research project.

The presentation is very episodic. They read like they were all written separately, and no real cohesive thread runs through the book.

There is just no real sense of proportion. A Scott court martial is covered in little more than a page, with the juicy details buried in footnotes, and then it goes on forever with the intriguing and fueding for positions.

And a critism that applies to much modern military history -- there are way too few maps.