Who was called ol fuss and feathers?

Answer 1

General Winfield Scott. A hero of the War of 1812 and the Mexican War, Scott had been head of the US Army, general in chief, since 1839. He had been in the army since 1808, for fifty-three years when the Civil War began. There was no system of retirement for military officers then, and pay being low few had much in the way of savings, and so had to serve until they died. Scott was 75 years old when the war started, and weighed 450 pounds. He was 6' 8" tall, so it wasn't as obese as it sounds, maybe. He fell asleep in the middle of conversations. A block and tackle had to be used to hoist him onto his long-suffering horse on the rare occasions when he tried to ride. Scott was a Virginian, but never thought of parting from the Union. Since he was obviously unable to take the field and lead an army himself, he offered command of the US field army to his brilliant aide from the Mexican War, whom he considered the most capable officer in the US Army, Robert E. Lee. Lee of course turned him down, resigned, and went south.