John E. Wool - War of 1812

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.