An orphan with little formal education , Wool remained in the military service and was sent to Europe to observe foreign military organizations and operations . He was promoted to colonel and Inspector General of the Army on April 29 , 1816 . 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 years later in 1847 made commander of the Department of the East
removal of the Cherokee
Trail of Tears
John E. Wool