Winfield Scott's Mexico City Operation

This monograph addresses the beginning of the American version of operational art. Winfield Scott's participation in the Mexican War is analyzed to determine whether his activity constitutes the genesis of American operational art: joint operations, distinct lines of operation, multiple field armies, operational intelligence, deep strikes, acceptance of risk, and distributed operations. The Mexican War is assessed using the definitions of operational art in FM 100-5 and emerging operational art in Professor James Schneider's article, "The Loose Marble--and the Origins of Operational Art." The war is analyzed on two levels: the overall planning and execution and the specifics of Scott's Mexico City Operation. Schneider's eleven characteristics of emerging operational art are the theoretical bases of this analysis. The American Civil War is briefly considered for the part that Winfield Scott actively played in planning the War. The careers of Generals Grant and Lee are surveyed for the influence of Winfield Scott. Similarities to the Mexican War are discovered. The sophisticated activities in the Mexican War are shown to be the precursors of similar activities in the Civil War. As a result of this analysis, it is possible to conclude that the Mexican War has elements of emerging operational art and is the genesis of American operational art. Technological limitations at the time of the largely forgotten Mexican War prevent the War from being as complete an example of emerging operational art as the American Civil War.