Virginia Vignettes

At five feet, five inches tall, weighing not much more than 100 pounds, squeaky-voiced Billy Mahone did not cut an imposing figure, but no one had a greater impact on Virginia in the two decades after the Civil War than he. During the war his leadership skills had elevated him to a generalship in the [...]

Virginians played a major role in the Mexican War. Winfield Scott of Dinwiddie County, who had performed heroically in the War of 1812, was given command of the American army that captured Mexico City after a remarkable campaign that overcame disease, formidable defenses, and larger forces. Zachary Taylor of Orange County, a veteran of the [...]