9/16/2004

Winfield Scott: chess player and sore loser

I've mentioned before that in my generation, every chess-playing kid studied the games of New Orleans phenomenon Paul Morphy and watched the rising career of Bobby Fischer. The Civil War ended Morphy's playing.

I had no idea that Winfield Scott had ever played Paul Morphy. (Thank you, Internet.) He did not play well enough to make the list of notable Morphy opponents and according to this, he reacted badly to being beaten by a nine-year-old.

Wonder if "Old Fuss 'n' Feathers," a physical giant, scared the child with his demonstrations of wrath...