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

by John S.D. Eisenhower

Book Overview

From a renowned historian and son of President Dwight D. Eisenhower comes the first-ever biography of General Winfield Scott, the towering commander, a hero of the War of 1812, who was instrumental in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684844516
• ISBN13: 9780684844510
• Release Date: December 1997
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.6" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

EXCELLENT HISTORY AND USEFUL

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

Splendid biography, expertly researched and well-written.

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.

The story of an outstanding American

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!

A superb study of a fascinating historical character.

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.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.

Excellent biography of an unjustly overlooked hero.

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.