Guide to the Winfield Scott (1786-1866), Army Officerand Whig Party Candidate, Papers 1823-1849 MG 40

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Descriptive Summary
Biographical Note
Scope and Content Note
Restrictions
Access Points
Administrative Information

Container List

Correspondence and Other Documents

Finding aid encoded by Julia Telonidis. July 2005. Production of the EAD 2002 version of this finding aid was made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Finding aid written in English.

Biographical Note

Winfield Scott, the son of Ann Mason and William Scott, was born in 1786 in Petersburg, Virginia. Scott entered the United States Army in 1807 and was commissioned as a captain in 1808. In 1809, while a Captain in the United States Army, Scott was suspended for a year for “behaving with contempt or disrespect towards his commanding officer.” During the War of 1812, Winfield Scott became a Brigadier General and fought along the Niagara River at the battles of Fort George, Queenston Heights, and Lundy’s Lane. After the War of 1812, Scott left the army and, in 1817, married Maria D. Mayo and together had seven children. He returned to active duty in 1832 to participate in the Blackhawk War (1831-1832) and later in the Seminole Wars (1835-1842). He was known as “Old Fuss and Feathers” because of his attention to detail and a penchant
for gaudy uniforms. The Whig Party nominated Scott as their presidential candidate in 1840. In 1841, he was appointed General-in-Chief of the United States Army. The Whig Party again nominated Scott as their presidential candidate in the 1844 election. From 1846-1848 Scott led the American forces in their attack on Mexico. In 1852, the Whig Party nominated Scott as President of the United States for the last time, however he was defeated in the general election by Franklin Pierce. He continued to serve his nation in the first year of the Civil War, but resigned in November 1861. He died in 1866 at West Point, New York.

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Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of the papers of Winfield Scott, dating from 1823-1849. Most of the collection consists of correspondence between Winfield Scott and Professor Charles Davies in which the two, mainly Scott, discuss politics. There is also correspondence with a number of other notables including: President Andrew Jackson, Honorable James Monroe, and Honorable James Cooper. The collection includes Scott’s letter to The New Jersey Historical Society regarding his payment of dues, a letter from E.W. Johnston to Charles King, the pay roll for Winfield Scott’s light artillery company in 1809, and notes on Scott’s trial for “behaving with contempt or disrespect toward his commanding officer.” It is not clear who wrote these notes, although it is likely that Winfield Scott did not write them.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Photocopying of materials is limited and no materials may be photocopied without permission from library staff.

Use Restrictions

Researchers wishing to publish, reproduce, or reprint materials from this collection must obtain permission.

The New Jersey Historical Society complies with the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code), which governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions and protects unpublished materials as well as published materials.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as: Manuscript Group 40, Winfield Scott Papers, The New Jersey Historical Society.

Acquisition Information

Gift (in part) of Alice R. Allan, 1942.

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Container List

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