A Very Crude 1852 Winfield Scott Campaign Medalet

BillJones

Winfield Scott was the last Whig Party presidential candidate. When he ran in 1852, the party was in the process of being torn apart by the slavery issue. The party factions were the “cotton Whigs” who supported slavery and the “conscience Whigs” who were either fully supportive of abolition or those who were having second thoughts about the morality of South’s “peculiar institution.”

Scott was one of the most important U.S. military figures during the first half of the 19th century. He had been in the Army since 1807. He was one of the heroes during the War of 1812 and completed the defeat of the Mexican Army during the Mexican War after President James K. Polk relieved Zachary Taylor. Taylor was relieved not because of any failures but because of his successes. Polk was concerned that Taylor would be a formidable presidential candidate in 1848, which proved to be true. In addition to his battlefield successes, Scott deserved high marks because he continued to serve in the Army at times when pay was low and the chances for promotion were extremely limited.

During the years that the Whig Party was in existence, its only presidential electoral successes had been the party had run former military men as their candidate. William Henry Harrison, who was a here during the Indian Wars and the War of 1812, had won the 1840 election. Zachary Taylor, who won national fame for his Mexican campaign in that war had won the 1848 election. Both men died in office. Scott had been a Whig hopeful since 1840, but by the time he finally won the party’s top prize, there was not much left of the party to help him win the election. The "Lundy's Lane reference on the reverse refers to a War of 1812 battle on the U.S. - Canadian border where Scott was severely wounded.

This is one of rarer Winfield Scott medalets. It was very crudely made in white metal, and this piece is actually quite nice, given what it is. The piece pictured in DeWitt / Sullivan is not as nice as this piece. It is quite rare. The DeWitt / Sullivan number is WS 1852-4.

This piece came from the recent Heritage Frent Auction. It did not sell in that sale, and Heritage offered it in the post auction sale. The deal was pay the price or make an offer. I made an offer, and it was accepted.

For those who might be looking for a more common Scott campaign piece, this one is somewhat easy to find.

tommy44

Interesting history lesson, thanks for posting. Until I read this post all I knew about Scott was that there is a small lake named after him in the North Georgia mountains where I had fished for stocked rainbow trout in the past. Now that I think about it I need to get back up there.