WAR WITH MEXICO (Part the Third)

Winfield Scott (1786-1866)

In which we continue our discussion of America’s war with Mexico.  We follow along as Major General Winfield Scott makes the dramatic decision to cut loose from his supply lines and march on Mexico City.  We also continue putting the spotlight on some American officers, almost all West Point graduates, who fight in Mexico & then go on to some measure of fame in the Civil War.  Plus, a fellow named Abraham Lincoln makes his first appearance in the podcast.

Our book recommendation for this episode is The Class of 1846: From West Point to Appomattox- Stonewall Jackson, George McClellan, and their Brothers by John C Waugh. In this collective biography, Waugh follows this class of West Pointers from the U.S. Military Academy to Mexico to the Civil War. The West Point class of 1846 graduated 59 men: 10 of them- including Stonewall Jackson- became Confederate generals; 12- including George McClellan- wore the stars for the Union.

Listen to Episode 7: MexicanWarPartThird