John E . Wool John Ellis Wool ( February 20 , 1784 – November 10 , 1869 ) was an officer in the United States Army during three consecutive U . S . wars : the War of 1812 , the Mexican - American War and the American Civil War . By the time of the Mexican - American War , he was widely considered one of the most capable officers in the army and a superb organizer . He was one of the four general officers of the United States Army in 1861 , and was the one who had the most Civil War service . When the war began , Wool , age 77 and a brigadier general for 20 years , commanded the Department of the East . He was the oldest general on either side of the war . Early life and education . John Ellis Wool was born in Newburgh , New York . He was orphaned at a young age but attended local school . He read the law with an established firm in order to learn and be admitted to the bar . War of 1812 . At the outbreak of the War of 1812 , Wool was a practicing attorney in Troy , New York . When he volunteered at the age of 28 , he was commissioned as a captain in the 13th United States Infantry Regiment . He fought at the Battle of Queenston Heights in 1812 , where he was wounded . During the action , he led a group of American soldiers up a fisherman ' s path to the British artillery stationed on top of the heights . In the face of an infantry charge led by famed British general Isaac Brock , he rallied his men and they held their ground . The attack was repulsed , in which action Brock died . However , the Americans eventually lost the battle . After recovering from his wound , Wool was promoted major of the 29th United States Infantry Regiment , which he led with distinction at the Battle of Plattsburgh in 1814 . After the battle , he was a major of the 6th United States Infantry . Following the war , he was promoted to the rank of colonel and the office of inspector - general in 1816 . An orphan with little formal education , Wool remained in the military service . He was sent to Europe to observe foreign military organizations and operations . He became the Inspector General of the U . S . Army . He also participated in the removal of the Cherokee from Georgia and Tennessee in the 1830s . As part of this effort , he established Fort Butler at present - day Murphy , North Carolina as the eastern headquarters of the military removal of the Cherokee . In 1841 , Wool was promoted to brigadier general in the U . S . Army and made commander of the Department of the East . Mexican - American War and Oregon . He was assigned command of the Center Division and led the Chihuahuan Expedition , which resulted in the capture of Saltillo . After leading his troops 900 miles from San Antonio , Texas , he joined General Zachary Taylor at the Battle of Buena Vista . Wool ' s leadership was recognized with a Congressional sword , a vote of thanks , and the brevet of major general . After the battle , he commanded the occupation forces of northern Mexico . He commanded both the Eastern Department and the Department of the Pacific at the end of the war . General Wool contributed extensively to the settling of the Indian Wars in Oregon , especially the Rogue River Indian War . He came into the conflict late , after the Oregon territorial government was formed and the Volunteer Militias had committed many acts of genocide against the tribes in southwestern Oregon Territory ( including present - day Washington state ) . Based in California , General Wool wrote to local papers with his opinions of the Oregon situation . Generally he defended the Indian tribes and condemned that acts of the militias . The federal government decided to undertake Indian removal to reservations in order to save them from further violence from the settlers , and Wool was to carry it out . Wool wrote to the Territorial Governor Stevens about the conflicts : Civil War . In the early days of the Civil War , Wool ' s quick and decisive moves secured Fort Monroe , Virginia , for the Union . The fort guarded the entrance to Chesapeake Bay and the James River , overlooking Hampton Roads and the Gosport Navy Yard , which the Confederates had seized . It was to serve as the principal supply depot of Maj . Gen . George B . McClellan ' s Peninsula Campaign . In May 1862 , Wool ' s troops occupied the navy yard , Norfolk , and the surrounding towns after the Confederates abandoned them . He was promoted to the full rank of major general in the regular army . General Wool was reassigned to command the Middle Department , then the VIII Corps . In January 1863 , he again assumed command of the Department of the East . Soon after the Battle of Gettysburg , he led troops diverted from that region in military operations to regain control in New York City during and after the draft riots in July of that year . US troops reached the city after rioters had already destroyed numerous buildings , including the Colored Orphan Asylum , which they burned to the ground . The riot had turned from a protest against the draft into attacks on blacks and their homes and businesses . Shortly thereafter , on August 1 , 1863 , General Wool retired from the army following more than fifty years of service . He was the oldest general officer to execute active command in either army during the war . He lived in Troy , New York for the remaining five years of his life , dying on November 10 , 1869 . He was buried there in Oakwood Cemetery . An obelisk was erected as a monument to Wool at the cemetery .