Leo T. reviewed Agent of Destiny: The Life and Times of General Winfield Scott on + 1775 more book reviews
I read a biography of Gen. Scott forty years ago and more and when I wanted to look up his meeting with Abe Lincoln, secured Col. Eisenhower's biography because I respect his book on the War of 1846 (So Far From God). I was not disappointed. He does an excellent job of including a few pertinent observations that tie Gen. Scott to his time and there are chapters suitable for interested students in a high school history class emphasizing reading. The last chapters leading up to the Civil War are especially good as the assignments of those who later became military leaders in the war are mentioned.
The portraits chosen as illustrations are uncommon and help readers think of what contemporary Americans might see, if they were fortunate enough to share the book or newspaper in which they appeared.
The author emphasizes that Scott served under fourteen presidents (listing them and his rank in Appendix A). Appendix B is a summary of the Cherokee Removal of 1838-1839, listing the parties and their strength upon departure (13,297) and upon arrival (11,478). People today who fall in line with the criticism of President Jackson seem to believe hundreds of thousands were set upon the Trail of Tears and tens of thousands perished. This shows that General Scott tried his best to escort his party of unhappy emigrants in a decent manner. I find it similar to the removal of those of Japanese descent from the Coast in 1942--there were many interested in acquiring their property for next to nothing.
General Scott was on a diplomatic mission to the San Juan Islands when the raid on Harper's Ferry happened, but I offer a sample paragraph of Col. Eisenhower's prose: "Ironically, when a firefight broke out on Brown's approach the first man killed was a free Negro, a baggage master at the railroad station. Brown and his men took some prisoners but then found themselves trapped in town by some local militia from nearby Charles Town. That night Colonel Robert E. Lee arrived on the scene, accompanied by Lieutenant James E. B. Stuart and a company of marines. They found sporadic firing going on, with Brown, his followers, and prisoners holed up in the railroad engine house. Hoping to avoid killing any of Brown's prisoners, Lee held off attacking that evening."
Footnotes, Bibliography, and Index.
The portraits chosen as illustrations are uncommon and help readers think of what contemporary Americans might see, if they were fortunate enough to share the book or newspaper in which they appeared.
The author emphasizes that Scott served under fourteen presidents (listing them and his rank in Appendix A). Appendix B is a summary of the Cherokee Removal of 1838-1839, listing the parties and their strength upon departure (13,297) and upon arrival (11,478). People today who fall in line with the criticism of President Jackson seem to believe hundreds of thousands were set upon the Trail of Tears and tens of thousands perished. This shows that General Scott tried his best to escort his party of unhappy emigrants in a decent manner. I find it similar to the removal of those of Japanese descent from the Coast in 1942--there were many interested in acquiring their property for next to nothing.
General Scott was on a diplomatic mission to the San Juan Islands when the raid on Harper's Ferry happened, but I offer a sample paragraph of Col. Eisenhower's prose: "Ironically, when a firefight broke out on Brown's approach the first man killed was a free Negro, a baggage master at the railroad station. Brown and his men took some prisoners but then found themselves trapped in town by some local militia from nearby Charles Town. That night Colonel Robert E. Lee arrived on the scene, accompanied by Lieutenant James E. B. Stuart and a company of marines. They found sporadic firing going on, with Brown, his followers, and prisoners holed up in the railroad engine house. Hoping to avoid killing any of Brown's prisoners, Lee held off attacking that evening."
Footnotes, Bibliography, and Index.
