1816–1836: Mexican War of Independence and Texas Revolution Woll joined the revolutionaries in the Mexican War of Independence on July 3, 1816, serving as a lieutenant general under
Martín Francisco Javier Mina y Larrea. His first deployment was off the
Soto La Marina River, on April 15, 1817. On April 18, Woll and the army captured
Soto la Marina, Tamaulipas. Though, the force later disbanded, and he then joined under Antonio López de Santa Anna. He remained with Santa Anna until the war's end, afterward remaining in the Mexican army. After the war, he married Lucinda Vautrey Griggi. Woll was promoted to colonel in 1828, under Santa Anna. He was Santa Anna's
aide-de-camp, as which he participated in the
Battle of Tampico; he earned the Cross of Tampico in 1832. In 1832, Woll was promoted to brigadier general, as which he helped capture a Spanish flag and present it to the Mexican government. He conspired in the
Plan of Veracruz, with him commanding in the and instating coupists into government offices. In 1835, he helped quash
revolts against the Centralist Republic of Mexico, including those led by
Juan Álvarez and
Francisco García Salinas. In 1836, Woll was promoted to quartermaster general under Santa Anna. During the Texas Revolution, Santa Anna ordered the
Goliad massacre, which in 1842 Woll claimed to have coaxed Santa Anna not to follow through with it, though his order did not reach Santa Anna in time. During the
Texas Revolution, he was stationed at
Presidio San Antonio de Béxar and took commands from
Vicente Filísola. One of these commands was, alongside
Joaquín Ramírez y Sesma, to march an army east to
Anahuac. When they reached the
Colorado River, they faced an army led
Sam Houston, who retreated. On April 26, 1836, he became Chief Of Staff under Filísola. Following the Mexican defeat in the
Battle of San Jacinto, Woll was ordered to determine the strength of the
Texan Army, though carried a surrender flag to avoid conflict. Despite using the flag, he was captured by
Thomas Jefferson Rusk. As a prisoner of war, he was transported to
Velasco then
Goliad, where he was released.
1838–1858: northern activities, Mexican–American War and departures from Mexico During the
Pastry War, Woll attempted to resign to avoid fighting the French, and he was instead placed on inactive duty. He returned to active service afterward, repressing revolts against the Centralist Republic of Mexico. Throughout the early 1840s, he served in northern Mexico, such as in early June 1842, when he was named leader of
Coahuila y Tejas and second-in-command of the Army of the North. He was the commanding Mexican officer during the
Battle of the Salado, in 1842, in which he was defeated. Despite losing, he was promoted to major general of the Army of the North and earned the
Cross of Honor. From February 1843 to December 6, 1844, he led the Army of the North. He left the force after its soldiers became coupists against Santa Anna. He was held a prisoner of war during the revolt, being released by the Mexican government on May 24, 1845. Woll played a role in the peace agreement between Mexico and Texas, with armistice being signed by both parties February 15, 1844. However, the Texas government was conspiring to capture Mexican land for the United States, so on June 19, 1844, he delivered a
declaration of war to Sam Houston, which led to the Mexican–American War. During the Mexican–American War, he fought alongside Santa Anna until they were defeated in 1847, then he travelled to Europe, where he remained until the end of the war and some years. In 1852, he travelled to
Havana, where he and Santa Anna planned a return to Mexico. They returned, and after Santa Anna was elected president in 1853, he was made
Governor of Tamaulipas, which he served as from 1853 to 1855; he served a second nonconsecutive term again in 1855. Though, Woll left the country after Santa Anna declared himself dictator of Mexico.
1855–1875: return to Mexico and later life . Woll is fifth from the right. From then until 1859, he supported the presidency of
Miguel Miramón and visited Mexico irregularly. He returned to Mexican military service on March 27, 1859 and fought alongside the conservatives in the Reform War. After Miramón the liberals won the war and
Benito Juárez was elected president, Woll returned to France. He returned during the Second French intervention in Mexico and fought against Juárez. He was a member of the Supreme Governing Junta, the group which appointed the
Assembly of Notables, the legislative body under French control. In 1863, the Junta Superior de Gobierno and the Asamblea de Notables agreed to establish the Second Mexican Empire, and chose Austrian archduke
Maximilian I as emperor; he was crowned on April 10, 1864. Under Maximilian, Woll organized the French Army and was named adjutant general of the French forces and an aide-de-camp. He was also awarded the
Legion of Honour. In fall 1865, he travelled to France to speak to
Napoleon III to have
François Achille Bazaine return to active duty, by request of Maximilian. Though, he stayed in France after learning Napoleon was considering withdrawing French forces. He remained in France until his death, in February 1875, aged 79, in
Montauban. == References ==