The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-10
OBITUARY.
nIaior-GeneraI John f. Wool.

NInbOr-tenerat JOnn T.. WOOL
The death of General John E. Wool is announced
in a telegram from Troy, N. Y, at which place he
has been residing since his retirement from active
duty in the army.
John Ellis Wool was born at Newburg, n. Y, in
the year 17s9 and was therefore but eighty years old
at the time of his DEATH and not eighty-sx, as has
been frequently stated. His early education was
very meagre, and before he had attained his ma
iority he became engaged in business at Troy,
New York, as a bookseller. His property being
consumed by fire. he turned his attention TO the law,
but his studies were interrupted by the war with
Great Britain in 1912, when, through the friendship
OF Governor De Witt Clinton, he obtained COM
mission as captain in the 18th Infantry. His first
active service was at the storming of Queenstown
Heights october 49, where he was shot through both
thighs, and was promoted to be major in the Goth
Infantry. He was in the battles Of Plattsburg,
September Gil, 1914, and for his gallantry in the
action at Beekmantown was brevetted lieutenant
colonel. On the reduction of the army at the end
of the war, he was retained in the 9th In
fantry; in 1916 was appointed inspector-general
of the Northern Division; in 1918 lieutenan-colonel
in 1921 inspector-general of the whole army;
and in 1926 brevet brigadiergeneral for ten years
faithful service.
In 1882 the Government sent him to Europe to
examine the military systems of some of the princ
pal nations. He was received with marked civility
in France, especially by the King and the Minister
Of War, Marshal Soult, and thence went to Belgium
at the siege of Antwerp. For year or two after
his return he'was employed in inspecting all the
coast defenses from Maine to the delta OF the Mis-
sissipp in 1886 he was charged with removing the
Cherokee Indians to Arkansas; and in 1888, during
the Canadian difficulties, he made reconnaissance
through the wilds Of northern Maine, with a view to
the defense of the frontier He obtained the full rank
Of brigadier-general July 25, 1s41.
At the commencement Of the Mexican war he was
ordered to the West to organize the volunteers
(May 3O 1S46), and in LEGS than six weeks had des-
patched to the seat of H. 900 troops fully armed
and equipped. He then collected 5000 troops at San
Antonio de Bexar under his personal command,
crossed the Rio Grande October 8, and reached
Sallo after march Of 900 miles, having lost hardly
man, and preserving such admirable discipline in
his army to gain the general goodwill of the in
habitants. He selected the ground on which was
fought the battle of Buena Vista February 49, 1s47,
made the preliminary dispositions, and commanded
in the early part of the action until the arrival of
General Taylor who in his official report OF the vic
tory attributes large share of the success to Gene
ralsWool's "vgilance and arduous services before
the action, and his gallantry and activity the
field" For his conduct on this occasion General
Wool was breveted major general in 1S4S.
He remained in command at Saltillo until Novem-
ber 49, 1S47 when the return of General Taylor to
the United States he succeeded to the command of
the Army Of Occupation, and retained it until the
conclusion of the war; his headquarters being at
Monterey. In this capacity the civil well as mill
tary authority throughout the States of New Leon,
Coahua, and Tamaupas devolyed upon him. He
cleared the country OF robbers and guerras and in
Monterey, according to eyewitness, enforced
perfect order than was to be found in any city Of the
United States.
Alter his return home in July, 1SIS, he commanded
the Eastern Military Division with his headquarters
at Troy until the reorganization OF the commands in
October 1862 when he placed at the head of the
Department OF the East, with his headquarters at
Baltimore In January, 1854 he received the thanks
OF Congress- and the presentation OF sword for his
| services I'm Mexico. In the same month he was
transferred to the Department OF the Pacific with
instructions from the Secretary OF War, Jefferson
Davis to ''use all proper means to detect the
fitting out OF armed expeditions against coun-
tries with which the United States are at peace"
and To with the civil authorities In main
tanning the neutrality laws" Executing these orders
literally General Wool incurred the disPieasure OF
the Secretary, who prevented his further compliance
with his Instructions by removing the headquarters
of the department from San Francisco to the inland
tovn OF Bencia The correspondence between the
| General and Davis was published by order OF Con-
gress in ls5S
In 1856 General Wool put an end to the Indian dis
turbances in Washington and Oregon Territories in
campaign of three months. At the close Of Presi-
sident Perces administration he was recalled to the
Department Of the East with his headquarters at
| Troy
When civil war was imminent towards the close of
1860 he fastened to oter his services to the Govern
ment and after the attack upon Fort Sumter went
| to New York to organize, equip and send on to
Washington The first regiments of volunteers He
took the responsibility OF reinforcing Colonel Dimck
at Fortress Monroe thus saving that important post
from danger OF seizure by the Confederates. About
MAY he was ordered TO return TO Troy. In August
he was sent to Fortress Monroe as Commander OF
the Department OF Virginia, and from that post led
an expedition which occupied Norfolk May 10, 1862
On June 2 he was transferred to the
command OF the Middle Department
with his headquarters at Baltimore
and did not subsequently take any active part in the
war. But his sympathies were heartily and tho
roughly enlisted the side OF the UniOn and his
failing years alone prevented him from adding fresh
aurels to those which had already clustered about