Years of service 1861–1906 Name John Bates | Relations Edward Bates (father) Rank Lieutenant General | |
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Born August 26, 1842
St. Charles County, Missouri ( 1842-08-26 ) Allegiance United States of America Commands held Chief of Staff of the United States Army Battles/wars American Civil War
Battle of Antietam
Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Gettysburg
Indian Wars
Spanish–American War
Philippine–American War Died February 4, 1919, San Diego, California, United States Education Washington University in St. Louis Place of burial Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, United States Battles and wars American Civil War, Battle of Antietam | ||
Service/branch United States Army | ||
John Coalter Bates (August 26, 1842 – February 4, 1919) was Chief of Staff of the United States Army from January to April 1906. Along with Arthur MacArthur, Jr., Bates was one of the last American Civil War veterans still on active duty in the United States military at the time of his retirement.
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Early life and education
Bates was born in St. Charles County, Missouri to congressman and future Attorney General Edward Bates and Julia Davenport Coalter. He was educated at Washington University in St. Louis. He was commissioned a first lieutenant with the 11th Infantry Regiment and later became an aide to General George G. Meade, reaching the brevet rank of lieutenant colonel for gallant and meritorious service in operations resulting in the capture of Richmond and surrender of Lee's army in April 1865.
Career
He later served on the Indian Frontier for many years (being promoted to major in 1882 and to lieutenant colonel in 1886), was made a colonel of the 2nd Infantry Regiment in 1892, and in May 1898 was promoted to Brigadier general of an Independent Brigade consisting of the 3rd Infantry Regiment and 20th Infantry Regiment in the Spanish–American War and commanded a division of volunteers in the Philippines in the early stages of the Philippine–American War. He was military governor of Cienfuegos in 1899, went that year to the Philippines, where he conducted the negotiations with the Sultan of Sulu. From 1900–1901, he commanded the 1st Division, Eighth Army Corps, conducted operations against insurgents in southern Luzon, and then commanded that department.
Later life and death
Bates commanded a provisional division in maneuvers at Fort Riley and commanded the Departments of the Missouri and the Lakes from 1901–1904 and later the Northern Division for a year before serving as Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 15 January to 13 April 1906. During this time, he was promoted to Lieutenant general and retired from active service in April 1906 having reached the mandatory retirement age of 64. He was the last Army Chief of Staff to have served in the American Civil War.
He was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and the Grand Army of the Republic.
General Bates died in San Diego, California on 4 February 1919.