WOOL, whl, John =is American gen eral: b. Newburgh, N. Y., 20 Feb. 1789; d Troy, N. Y., 10 Nov. 1869. He was in earls life proprietor of a bookstore in Tray, and lint property being consumed by fire, he turned to the law, but his studies were interrupted by the war with Great Britain in 1812, when he because captain in the 13th infantry. He distinguished himself at Queenstown Heights, Plattsburgh. and Beekmantown, and in 1816 was appointee inspector-general of the northern division; it 1818 lieutenant-colonel; in 1821 inspector-gen eral of the whole army; and in 18215 brevet brigadier-general for 10 years' faithful service In 1832 the government sent him to Europe le examine the military systems of some of the principal nations. In 1836 he was charged with removing the Cherokee Indians to .Arkansas. and in 1838, during the Canadian dufeculues made a reconnoissance through the wilds of northern Maine, with a view to the defense of the frontier. He was appointed brig-ad:et-gen eral, 25 June 1841, and at the beginning of the Mexican VN ar was ordered to the Wen to organize the volunteers, 30 May 1846i, sad in less than six weeks dispatched to the seat of war with 12,000 troops fully armed xisl equipped. He selected the ground on wind
was fought the battle of Buena Vista 23 Fek 1847, commanded in the early part of the action. and for his conduct on this occasion sex, brevetted a major-general in 1848 After his return home in July 1848, be cansnanded the military division, with headquarters at Troy, until October 185.3, when he was placed at the head of the department of the East, with the headquarters at Baltimore: From 1854 to 1857 he was in command of the department of the Pacific and of the Eastern department again in 1857-60. When civil war was immi nent toward the dose of 1860, he offered his services to the government, and after the at tack upon Fort Sumter went to New York to organise, equip and send to NVashington the first regiment of volunteers. In August he was sent to Fortress Munroe as commander the department of Virginia, and from that post led an expedition which occupied Norfolk, 10 May 1862. He was promoted to be full major-general in the regular army, 16 May 1862 and the next year was placed on the re tired list.