Winfield Scott -- Grand Old Man of the Army

[teufel0331]

after playing the 1812 campaign as the americans, it struck me that the US Army's longest-serving general may not be represented in his full glory. winfield scott was, after all, the united states' "Grand Old Man of the Army" and a key figure in the war's niagara campaign, which saw him brevetted as the youngest general in the regular army.

i'm not sure what led to his assignation of the ambusher and defensive abilities; it seems to me that his strengths were in administration, training and improving the troops' morale/welfare. it was his relentless training, close-order drilling and efforts at improving camp conditions that led the yanks to victory at chippewa. it was also his recklessness that made the battle of lundy's lane canada's bloodiest -- in which scott got himself wounded so badly as to miss the rest of the war.

i propose that his abilities better reflect his true impact on the war, namely giving him the Reckless, Good_Admin_Army and Master_Driller traits (also Charismatic, Strong Morale or Brave). i know that these are powerful traits but 'ol Fuss & Feathers was a powerful young leader!

my case below:

Scott's "Camp of Instruction"
[color="Navy"]While waiting at Buffalo, Scott had instituted a major training programme. He drilled his troops ten hours every day, using the 1791 Manual of the French Revolutionary Army. (Prior to this, various American regiments had been using a variety of different manuals, making it difficult to manoeuvre any large American force).

Scott also purged his units of any remaining inefficient officers who had gained their appointments through political influence rather than experience or merit, and he insisted on proper camp discipline including sanitary arrangements. This reduced the wastage from dysentery and other enteric diseases which had been heavy in previous campaigns.

In only one matter was he thwarted: he could not find enough blue uniforms for his men. They had been shipped in plenty of time for once but had been diverted to Plattsburgh and Sackets Harbor, although enough were found from one source or another to clothe the 21st US Infantry. Eventually Commissary General Callender Irvine had to have 2,000 uniforms hastily run up and sent to Buffalo, but there being insufficient blue cloth, short gray jackets were substituted.[/color]

Another good link: here (avec une version française également!)