 Complete the following phrase:  Before his military career, Pillow practiced law and was active in Democratic Party politics. He was a floor leader in support of the nomination of fellow-Tennessean James K. Polk at the 1844 Democratic National Convention. In 1847, Pillow was commissioned a brigadier general of volunteers to serve in the MexicanAmerican War, and was later promoted to major general. He performed reasonably well, and was wounded that year at 