[1][2][3] He was raised and educated in New Bern, and in 1829 began attendance at the United States Military Academy (West Point).
Among his classmates who later attained general officer rank in the U.S. Army were John G. Barnard, George Washington Cullum, Rufus King, Benjamin Alvord, and Henry W.
[5] Henry du Pont supported the Union during the Civil War and served as a major general in the Delaware Militia.
[5] Among Scott's prominent classmates who did not become general officers were William Wallace Smith Bliss, John Addison Thomas, and Abraham Myers.
[4] During 1834, he served with his regiment in Alabama during the removal of the Chickasaw people to Indian Territory in accordance with the Treaty of Pontotoc Creek.
[4] In September 1847, he received promotion to brevet lieutenant colonel to recognize his meritorious performance of duty at Chapultepec.
[4] With the outbreak of the American Civil War in early 1861, Scott was promoted to colonel in May and assigned as the Inspector General of the United States Army.
[4] Beginning in October 1861, Scott was on an extended leave of absence to convalesce from disabilities incurred earlier in his military career.
[9] According to some wartime newspaper accounts, Scott took his leave of absence after being accused by General George B. McClellan of providing details of Union plans and orders to members of the Confederacy.