SCOTT: Identity Known

After visiting the Textile Museum the other day my date, Danny, and I went for a walk around the area. It was an abnormally beautiful day. If it weren't for the buildings and the lack of blonde surfer dudes I could have pretended I was in California.

On the walk I spotted this statue in a grassy circle surrounded on all sides by traffic. Since I've been here I have adopted the habit of photographing every statue I come across. A minimum of 2 photos per statue. One photo of the statue and one photo of the engraving. You can learn a lot from reading a statue's plaque.

UNLESS,

that statue is the one I saw. After being yanked by Danny across the street (jaywalking unnerves me) I found myself face to stone. I raised my eyes a bit and saw the word SCOTT. That was it. SCOTT. My date and I walked around the base of the statue inspecting it for any shadowy letters but we didn't find any.

"Scott must be pretty important."

Danny, who is a local I would like to add, had no idea who Scott was. Neither did I. 

Turns out he was one of the top military commanders of his time. He participated in the war of 1812, the Black Hawk War, the Second Seminole War, and the Mexican American War. Although he was too old to fight during the Civil War it was his "Anaconda Plan," that the Union used to gain control of the Mississippi River.

Winfield Scott, if I was named Winfield I'd have them just put Scott on my statue too, also supervised the diaspora of the Cherokee Nation in what is now called the Trail of Tears.

I just can't get that last bit out of my head. This is the man who commanded the troops who marched Cherokee men, women, and children a thousand miles over six months. An inhumane march during which an estimated 4,000 Cherokee people died.

Bravo for being a brilliant military tactician and being an asset in so many wars, but shame for being involved in the Trail of Tears. 

When I read about someone, unless I already know they are monstrous, I want to like them. That being said, I want to believe that this is something Scott did because he was commanded, and that it hurt him to do it, but I don't know that it did.

This statue is in Scott's circle (makes sense doesn't it?).

If any one knows more information about Winfield Scott by all means share it. I would love to hear any factual commentary and/or corrections (mistakes can be easily made).