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Lot 4495

A portrait of Major-General John Elias Wool
veteran of the War of 1812, the Mexican War and the Civil War

17 November 2008, 10:00 PST
San Francisco

Sold for US$3,217.50 inc. premium

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A portrait of Major-General John Elias Wool
veteran of the War of 1812, the Mexican War and the Civil War

Oil on canvas. The general depicted in later years in full dress uniform of a general officer, wearing his sash and sword with his right hand in his coat. Unsigned. In later wooden frame.
Condition: Showing some restoration, overpainting to background and two small chips to paint.
See Illustration

Footnotes

Note: General John Elias Wool, 1784-1869 was one of the few soldiers who were veterans of the War of 1812, the Mexican War and the Civil War and was in fact the oldest general officer to take an active role in the Civil War.
He volunteered for service during the War of 1812 and was made a Captain of the 13th U.S. Infantry Regiment. In October of 1812 he was promoted to Major of the 29th Regiment for gallantry at the Storming of Queenstown Heights, in Sept. of 1814 promoted Lt. Colonel for gallantry at the Battle of Plattsburg; in 1816 promoted Colonel of Cavalry and Inspector General.
In 1836 he oversaw the removal of the Cherokee Tribe from Georgia and Florida and was promoted to Brigadier-General in 1841. At the outbreak of the Mexican War in 1846 he was sent West to collect volunteers and soon collected 12,000 soldiers. Following later with 3000 more troops he marked on Saltillo and then selected the ground and disposed the forces in preparation for the Battle of Buena Vista. General Taylor arrived and took command but after the battle credited General Wool for his major contribution to this important victory...Wool's vigilance and arduous service before the action, and his gallantry and activity on the field. He was promoted Brevet Major-General in 1847. He commanded the army of occupation after Taylor's departure and upon returning home was given command of the Department of the East. In 1854 he was awarded a Congressional sword for his part in the Mexican War. In 1854 he was ordered to San Francisco in command of the Department of the West and in 1856 led a successful expedition to quell the Native American tribes in Oregon and Washington.
When the Civil War broke out he organized the first volunteer units from New York and was then appointed to command of the Department of Virginia. In May of 1862 he was promoted to Major-General but was retired soon after due to health issues.

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