★ ★ Wool, John E.

John Ellis Wool​

Born: February 29, 1784

Birthplace: Newburgh New York

Father: John Wool 1750 – 1790

Mother: Ann Relay

Wife: Sarah Moulton 1787 – 1873

(Buried: Oakwood Cemetery, Troy, New York)​

Occupation before War:

Store Clerk in Troy, New York​

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Attorney in Troy, New York​

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1812 – 1813: Captain United States Army, 13th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1812: Wounded through the thighs at Battle of Queenston Heights​

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1813 – 1815: Major United States Army, 29th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1814: Served with gallantry at the Battle of Plattsburgh

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1814: Brevetted to the rank of Lt. Colonel in United States Army​

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1815 – 1816: Major United States Army, 6th​ Infantry Regiment​

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Sent to Europe as an observer for United States Army​

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1816 – 1841: Colonel and Inspector General of United States Army​

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Participated in the removal of the Cherokee Indians​

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Helped establish Fort Butler in Murphy, North Carolina​

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1841 – 1862: Brigadier General, United States Army​

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Commander of United States Army, Department of the East​

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Commander of Center Division and led the Chihuahan Expedition​

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1847: Served in the Battle of Buena Vista, Mexico under Gen. Taylor​

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Congress recognized him for his leadership, and he was awarded a sword​

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1847: Brevetted to the rank of Major General for Buena Vista Service​

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1847 – 1854: Commander of U.S. Army, Department of the East​

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1854 – 1857: Commander of U.S. Army, Department of the Pacific​

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1857 – 1860: Commander of U.S. Army, Department of the East​

Civil War Career:

1861 – 1862: Commander of United States Army, Dept. of Virginia​

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Helped equip some of the first regiments sent from New York​

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Helped secure the capture of Fort Monroe, Virginia​

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1862 – 1863: Major General, United States Army​

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1862: United States Army Commander of Middle Department

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1862 – 1863: First Commander of United States Army, 8th​ Corps​

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1863: Commander of United States Army, Department of the East​

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1863: Commander of troops trying to regain control of New York in riot​

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1863: de facto Military Commander of New York City, New York​

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1863: Lincoln sent order retiring Wool after 51 years of Service​

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1863 – 1869: Writer of letters in protest to his retirement from Army​

Died: November 10, 1869

Place of Death: Troy, New York

Cause of Death: Tripped and fell, hurting himself, his health declined

Age at time of Death: 85 years old

Burial Place: Oakwood Cemetery, Troy, New York

 

[Pollaco]

At the time of his retirement ( August 1, 1863) Wool was the fourth ranking general in the Army.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Major General John Ellis Wool! Salutes remembering General Wool on his birthday.

 

[USS ALASKA]

Sirs, one interesting tidbit not mentioned in his obit was that Fort Calhoun was renamed Fort Wool in 1862. Located south of Fort Monroe, it was equipped with one of the few Sawyer cannon and could range to Sewell's Point.

https://www.battlefields.org/sites/default/files/styles/wys/public/thumbnails/image/FortWool-fortmonroe-fortsewell.jpg?h=1d964d05&itok=7KatLmbJ

Fort Wool

Fort Wool

www.virginiaplaces.org

Sawyer Guns at Fort Wool | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

Been reading about Fort Wool and came across the below statements; "The 42-pounders (rifle) columbiads were mounted at Newport News and upon the Rip Raps (Fort Wool), the latter being the only guns there that could reach Sewell's Point battery, a distance of three and one-half miles, which...

civilwartalk.com

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[Belfoured]

Sirs, one interesting tidbit not mentioned in his obit was that Fort Calhoun was renamed Fort Wool in 1862. Located south of Fort Monroe, it was equipped with one of the few Sawyer cannon and could range to Sewell's Point.

View attachment 433574

https://www.battlefields.org/sites/default/files/styles/wys/public/thumbnails/image/FortWool-fortmonroe-fortsewell.jpg?h=1d964d05&itok=7KatLmbJ

View attachment 433575

Fort Wool

Fort Wool

www.virginiaplaces.org

Sawyer Guns at Fort Wool | Naval War - At Sea & Along Inland Waterways

Been reading about Fort Wool and came across the below statements; "The 42-pounders (rifle) columbiads were mounted at Newport News and upon the Rip Raps (Fort Wool), the latter being the only guns there that could reach Sewell's Point battery, a distance of three and one-half miles, which...

civilwartalk.com

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

I'd add that the 2020 biography of Wool, Courage Above All Things by Hinton and Thompson, is excellent. I also recommend Lincoln Takes Command by Norder (2020), the best study of Wool's capture of Norfolk in May 1862 pretty much under Lincoln's direct command during his visit to Fort Monroe.

 

[ErnieMac]

From the 23 July 1863 edition of the Pittsburgh Gazette.