Who developed the Anaconda Plan during the American Civil War?

The Anaconda Plan was developed by General Winfield Scott at the beginning of the American Civil War in 1861. Scott was 74 years old at the start of the war and was unable to lead troops into battle. He suffered from gout, rheumatism, and dropsy. He was extremely overweight and even unable to mount a horse. He had, however, served in the army since 1808 and was the best commander of his time.

Envisioning a quick victory, public opinion called for an immediate campaign to the Confederate capital, Richmond, to crush the rebellion. Scott thought this was impractical and devised a plan to blockade southern ports, split the Confederacy by sending an army down the Mississippi Valley and then bringing the rebellion to an end by capturing Richmond. This plan was derided as being passive and called the "Anaconda Plan" because it would crush the Confederacy slowly.

An infirm Scott played no combat role in the Civil War, he in fact resigned on November 1, 1861. However, after General Irwin McDowell was defeated at the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861 while trying to capture Richmond, Scott was proven correct in his assessment of a prolonged struggle. After a four year blockade of Southern ports, numerous battles that secured the Mississippi River for the Union Army and an invasion of the Southern states by several Union armies, Richmond fell on April 3, 1865. All Confederate armies surrendered shortly, thereafter.