The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-11-11

Msjor General JON"
The teleoaanb announces the death OF an
other DISTINGUISHED citizen of the Republic, |
Can John e, Wool who died at his residence |
in Tr,v. N. Y, at half past two o'clock yester-
day morning. |
General Wool was born in Newburgh, New
York in 1889. He received but a scantv cd
ucation, aud before reaching the age of man
hood became proprietor of a bookstore in the
city OF Troy. His property being consumed by
fire he directed his attention to the law, but his
studies were interrupted by the breaking out |
OF tue war with Great Britain in 1Sl2, when,
through the influence of Governor DE witt |
Clinton. with whom he was very intimate, he |
obtained the commission OF Captain in the |
Thirteenth Infantry. At the storming OF
Queenstown Heights, October Is, when he
first saw active service, he was shot through
both thighs. After this he was promoted to
be Major in the Twenty ninth Infantry. He
distinguished himself in the battle of Platts
burg, September 6, II, 1914, and also in the
engagement at Beekmantown, for which he
was breveted Lieutenant. Colonel. The army
being reduced at the end of the war he was
retained in the Sixth Infantry. In 1916 he
became Inspector-General of the Northern
Division; in 1917, Lieutenant-C Colonel; and
in 1921, Inspector-General of the whole army.
I 1926 he was breVeted Briga 1ier General
in consideration often years faithful service.
1882 he was commissioned by the govern
me 1t to go to Europe for the purpose of ex-
a Mining the var Gus military systems there.
In france he was received with marked con-
81 Ieration by the Xxi and Marshal Soult.
Minister of War. Leaving Paris he went to
Begun, where he was the guest of the
Kin and was present at the siege of Ant
werp. Returning home he was employed by
t'e Government in inspecting all the
coast deenees from Maine to the delta
Of the Mississippi. In 1886 he superintendent
the removal OF the Cherokees to Arkansas.
an in 1885, during the Canadian troubles he
re onnoitered the wilds of Northern Maine. |
with a view to the defence of the frontiers |
In l841 he attained the full rank of Briaa.
d er-General. The Mexican war breaking ont
May 80, 1916, he so rapidly organized the vol |
unteers hat in less than six weeks he had dis
patched to he seat of war 10000 troops armed
and equipped. Assembling 5000 troops at
SIN Antonio de Rezas, he crossed the Rio |
Grande October Sth reached Sa tillo after |
march OF 800 miles, scarcely losing a man |
and maintaining such admirable discipline
among his troops as to gain the general goot /
VII OF the inhabitants. The battle-ground |
Buena Vista was selected by Gen. Wool |
who comman led until the arrival of Genera.
Taylor. who, in his Official report oil the yicto-
ry, admits that the success was in n oreat |
measure owing TO the Generals vigilance |
III arduons services before the action and his
antry and activity on the field" For his
serSi es on this occasion he was promoted to
Breret Major-General. He remained in COM
mand al Saito until November 25, 1871. when
he succeeded Gen Taylor in command of the
army OF occupation, retaining it until the close
o the war. During this time he wa, not id, o
bat hunted out the Iobbers and guerilas who in
feste the States wherein he held Jurisdiction.
He succeeded in maintaining degree of order
scarcely second to that in orr pri rcipal cities.
Returning home in July, 1S4S, he made his
headquarters in Troy being then in COM
mand of the Eastern Military Division. On tbe
reorganization OF the commands in Oct, 1853
he was placed at the head of the Department
OF the East, with his headquarters at Balti-
more In January, 1854, he received the
thanks OF Congress, and was presented with |
sword IN recognition of his services in Mexi-
c., and was transferred to tie Department. of
the Pacific, rece wing Instructions from Jetfer-
son Davis, then Secretary OF War, to "use al,
proper means TO prevent the fitting out OF
armed expeditions against. countries with
which the United States are at peace" and to
cooperate with the civil authorities in main
timing the neutrality laws" Trouble at his
tine occurred between the General and Mr..
DAVIS the former, like true soldier, having
executed his orders to the letter, and so in
curing the displeasure of the Secretary.
Ihe correspondence between the gentlemen
VS. subsequently published by order of Con-
ess. In 1886, in three months campaign |
Gen. wool put an end to the Indian troubles |
in the Territories of Washington and Oregon.
A The close Of President Pierce's admins
traiion he again made his headquarters
49, I'D "oiD5 tccdFu 10 The depart /
ment OF the East Foreseeing in 1860 that
civil war was imminent, he offered his SER
wees to the Government, and after the at
tack on Fort Sumter he went on TO New |
York to organize, equip and send on to Wash
ing the first regiment ofvolunteers. His pat
rlotism was all alive, and he was eager for
action. 1t was thought at Washington, how
ever, that he was broken down and incapable
through age, and he therefore was not EN-.
ployed as his former services and rank en-
titled him to be. " it'll his newly raised vol
unteers he look the responsibility OF reinforc-
Ing Col. Dimick at Fortress Monroe. and SO
saved that important port from danger of cap
ture by the Contederates. IN May be was
ofdered to return to Troy. In August, he
was sent TO Fortress Monroe as commander |
of the department of Virginia. From this
point he led an expedition which Captured Nor
folk, May 10th. 1862. After this MAY I6) he
received the full rank of Major-General in the
regular army. In June he Was transferred to
the command of the Middle Department with
MS headquarters at Baltimore, where he re-
NAMED until the close of the war. At the
close oil the war, when the army was reduced |
TO Its original footing the General retired from
active command, and has since resided at his c
homa
RoiIIIcaf Nntcs l