Book: Winfield Scott’s Vision for the Army - Mobilizing the North to Preserve the Union

Truly visionary, Winfield Scott’s enduring contribution to the Union war effort was the “Anaconda Plan.” This plan in essence became the basic overall Union military strategy in the American Civil War. Unlike most in 1861, Scott envisioned a protracted four-year long war that would involve large numbers of troops and a grand strategy.

Winfield Scott had another vision in 1861. This vision determined the role the standing, Regular Army would play as the Union mobilized to suppress the rebellion of the Southern states. Scott’s vision called for the Regulars to be a nucleus for the Union Army to form around as it expanded. Scott’s decision to keep the Regular units intact would have a lasting impact on mobilization, training and the war effort the next four years. Some tried to persuade Scott to scatter Regular officers and men throughout formations to be teachers or a “training cadre.” However, Scott persuaded the Secretary of War and President Abraham Lincoln to keep Regular officers, enlisted forces, and units intact. Scott formulated this policy based on a lifetime of soldiering and experiences. In this work, author Mark Vlahos attempts to get inside the mind of Winfield Scott and determine what influenced him to make this decision, and also looks at alternatives that Scott could have utilized during Army expansion and mobilization. The 205 page book, self published by Mark in 2015 via Lulu Press, is thoroughly researched with many tables of information and data, backed up by numerous photographs, illustrations and 348 footnotes.

Book Review: Jack Mason’s February, 2016 Review in the Midwest Book Review online magazine “Reviewer’s Bookwatch”

“Exceptionally well researched, written, organized and presented, "Winfield Scott's Vision for the Army: Mobilizing the North to Preserve the Union" is an original and strongly recommended contribution to the growing library of American Civil War histories. A truly impressive military history, "Winfield Scott's Vision for the Army" will prove an enduringly popular and valued addition to community, and academic library American Civil War reference collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Winfield Scott's Vision for the Army" is also available in a Kindle edition.”

Jack Mason, “Reviewer’s Bookwatch”, February 2016