Fil:Gideon Pillow and Winfield Scott.jpg

Beskrivelse

TITLE: Self-inflating pillow

CALL NUMBER: PC/US - 1848.S656, no. 2 (B size) <P&P>[P&P]

REPRODUCTION NUMBER: LC-USZ62-11404 (b&w film copy neg.)

SUMMARY: American general Gideon J. Pillow's self-promoting attempts to discredit Mexican War commander Gen. Winfield Scott are ridiculed in this portrayal of Scott puncturing "Polk's Patent" pillow. Pillow's efforts were widely viewed as part of a campaign by the Polk administration to damage Scott's growing prestige at home. An anonymous letter--actually written by Pillow--published in the "New Orleans Delta" on September 10, 1847, and signed "Leonidas," wrongfully credited Pillow for recent American victories at Churubusco and Contreras. The battles were actually won by Scott. When Pillow's intrigue was exposed, he was arrested by Scott and held for a court-martial. Polk, defensive of Pillow, recalled Scott to Washington. During the trial that ensued, "Delta" correspondent James L. Freaner testified in Scott's favor. At Pillow's behest Maj. Archibald W. Burns, a paymaster, claimed authorship of the "Leonidas" letter. Currier's cartoon was probably published during or shortly after Pillow's trial, which began in March 1848. With the sword of "Truth," Scott (right) punctures a pillow held by Burns (left) and which is being inflated by Pillow (kneeling, center). Scott holds Freaner's testimony in his hand and treads on the Leonidas letter. He exclaims at the air released, "Heavens what a smell!" At left, behind Burns is a strong box on which rests a sack of coins, marked "From Genl. Pillow for fathering the Leonidas Letter."

MEDIUM: 1 print : Lithograph on wove paper ; 28.8 x 44.8 cm (image).

CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1848.

Licensering

	Denne mediefil er offentlig ejendom i USA. Dette gælder for amerikanske værker, hvor ophavsretten er udløbet, ofte fordi dets første offentliggørelse fandt sted inden 1. januar 1929. Se denne side (på engelsk) for yderligere forklaring.
	Dette billede er formentlig ikke offentlig ejendom uden for USA; dette gælder i sær i lande og områder, der ikke anvender rule of the shorter term for amerikanske værker, såsom Canada, Folkerepublikken Kina (ikke Hong Kong eller Macao), Tyskland, Mexico, and Schweiz. Skaberen og udgivelsesåret er afgørende oplysninger og skal fremlægges. Se Wikipedia:Offentlig ejendom og Wikipedia:Ophavsret for flere detaljer.