James Henry Coates (November 27, 1829 – May 17, 1902) became the commanding officer of the

11th Illinois Infantry Regiment The 11th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment from Illinois that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. In April 1861, it was formed as a three-month volunteer unit, and in July 1861 it was reorganized as ...

during the American Civil War. Born in Pennsylvania, he became a

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

in the 11th Illinois in 1861. He fought at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Riggins Hill, and in the Vicksburg campaign. He rose in rank to

major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

and

lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

before being promoted colonel after the regiment's commander was killed at the Siege of Vicksburg in 1863. He led an expedition up the Yazoo River which resulted in the Battle of Yazoo City in March 1864. He led a brigade in XVII Corps in the Yazoo City expedition and his regiment in the Mobile campaign. He received the

brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

rank of brigadier general for war service on March 13, 1865.

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Coates, James Henry 1829 births 1902 deaths People of Illinois in the American Civil War Union Army colonels

See also

References