Delavan Bates (March 17, 1840 – December 19, 1918) was an American soldier who fought in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. Bates was awarded the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...

, for his action in

Cemetery Hill Cemetery Hill is a landform on the Gettysburg Battlefield that was the scene of fighting each day of the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863). The northernmost part of the Army of the Potomac defensive " fish-hook" line, the hill is gently ...

, Virginia during the

Battle of the Crater The Battle of the Crater was a battle of the American Civil War, part of the siege of Petersburg. It took place on Saturday, July 30, 1864, between the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee, and the Union Arm ...

on 30 July 1864. He was honored with the award on 22 June 1891.

Biography

Bates was born to Alpheus Bates (1808 - 1888) and Hannah Bates (1810 - 1901) on 17 March 1840. Bates enlisted with the

121st New York Infantry The 121st New York Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the "Onesers" or "Upton's Regulars", was a volunteer regiment recruited during the American Civil War from Otsego County and Herkimer County, New York. The Hon. Richard Franchot was appoint ...

in August 1862. He was captured at the

Battle of Salem Church The Battle of Salem Church, also known as the Battle of Banks' Ford, took place on May 3 and 4, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, as part of the Chancellorsville Campaign of the American Civil War. Background After occupying Marye's Heig ...

during the

Battle of Fredericksburg The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. The combat, between the Union Army of the Potomac commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnsi ...

and was held at

Libby Prison Libby Prison was a Confederate prison at Richmond, Virginia, during the American Civil War. In 1862 it was designated to hold officer prisoners from the Union Army. It gained an infamous reputation for the overcrowded and harsh conditions. Prison ...

Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...

for approximately two weeks. He was subsequently released in a prison exchange. He was also involved in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Bates became colonel of the

30th United States Colored Infantry The 30th United States Colored Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was composed of African American enlisted men commanded by white officers and was authorized by the Bureau o ...

in March 1864 While leading his troops in the

on 30 July 1864, he was seriously wounded about his chest and arms, in addition to receiving a bullet in the face. Bates survived these injuries and was among 23 troops to receive the Medal of honor for bravery during the battle. By the end of the war Bates had been promoted to Brevet Brigadier General. He honorably mustered out in December 1865. After the war Bates resided in

Salisbury, North Carolina Salisbury is a city in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, United States; it has been the county seat of Rowan County since 1753 when its territory extended to the Mississippi River. Located northeast of Charlotte and within its metropolita ...

but soon returned to West Richmondville, New York where he married Lana Ann Green on 2 January 1870, with whom he had five children. He was a merchant and storekeeper. Bates died in Aurora, Nebraska on December 18, 1918 and his remains are interred at Aurora Cemetery.

Medal of Honor citation

External links

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bates, Delavan 1840 births 1918 deaths People of New York (state) in the American Civil War Union Army officers United States Army Medal of Honor recipients American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor People from Richmondville, New York People from Aurora, Nebraska

Biography

Medal of Honor citation

See also

External links

References