John C. Bates

John Coalter Bates (August 26, 1842-February 4, 1919) was as Chief of Staff of the United States Army from January to April 1906.

Born in St. Charles County, Missouri, he was educated at Washington University in St. Louis. He fought in the American Civil War with the U.S. 11th Infantry Regiment and was later an aide to General George G. Meade, reaching the temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel for gallant and meritorious service in operations resulting in the fall of Richmond and surrender of Lee's Army in April 1865.

He later served on the Indian Frontier for many years, New International Encyclopedia was made a colonel of the Second United States Infantry in 1892, and commanded a division 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, VIII Corps, conducted operations against insurgents in southern Luzon, and then commanded that department.

He 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 the 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 later retired from active service in April 1906.

General Bates died in San Diego, California on 4 February 1919.

References

* [http://www.army.mil/CMH/books/CG&CSA/Bates-JC.htm John Coulter Bates at the US Army Center for Military History]