The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-08-30

GERS. At the rendezvous appeared from Otseg o
County young man but y years of age, with
the quota from the Town of Worcester. which
he had enrolled. His name was Deleyan Bates
BE had been brought up on q farm, taught
school few terms and the war found him
clerking III country store He was mustered
into the regiment as Second Lieutenant OF Co. /.
Col. Upton was perhaps the best tacticisn in
the Northern army, and took great pride ia
educating his subordinate officers in the theory
and art Of war. Lieut.. Bates was an apt pupil
and soon had the three volumes Of Casey's Tao
tics by heart, as we'll as q fair understanding OF
| the Rules and Regulations governing the
armies of the United States. Al the battle of
Salem Church he won the bars of First Lieu
tenant. Co. drove the rebels from the school
house at the left of the church, but the line Of
battle at the edge of the woods was too strong
to DO broken, and the Union troops were forced
to retire. Lieut.. Bates, stopping for a moment
to empty his revolver into the church window,
which was filed with Alabamians, was taken
prisoner. He was in Libby Prison 10 days,
and then exchanged in time for Gettysburg.
In the Winter of 1863 and "a there came an
earnest call for experienced officers for the coli
ored troops that were being rapidly organized.
Lieut.. Bates obtained permission to go before
the Examining Board and for his proficiency
in tactics and practical knowledge of the care
and management of troops III the field was
given Colonies commission aud appointed to
the command of the Both u. S. colored troops.
The material of this regiment both officers
and men, was excellent and under the COM
mand Of Col. Bates they were soon ready for
active service. Attached to the Fourth Di-
vision of the Nineteenth Corps during the
campaign of Grant from the Rapidan, their
duties consisted in guarding the wagon trains,
bat upon reaching Petersburg this division
took its position in the front line. At the
charge of the col0red division during the bat
tie of the mine Col Batcs's regiment took the
lead. They went in by the flank, fled to the
right at the Crater. and with the other regi-
ments went over the rebel works, capturing a
nun. Der of prisoners.
The regiment lost heavily in this charge IN
both officers and men, Maj. Leeke being among
the killed. An order then came from the di-
/ vision commander that charge must be made
| on Cemetery Hill. The commander of the
| First Brigade not being found, the order was
! given to Col. Bates. Without moments hesi-
| tation word was passed down the line and the
/ order to advance given, Col. Bates with sword
| in hand taking the lead. eil-dirccted vol
| ley from the rebels IN front and to the right,
| who were prepared and expecting a move OF
| this kind, demoTaized the charge, and Col
! Bates, among others, fell with q minie-bail
| through his head A little later another
| charge, led by the commander OF the Second
| Brigade, met the same fate. The day was lost
| Iub TIC kOOu GUHuuCb OF HIS regiment AuU
his own personal bravery were appreciated by
! his superior officers, and upon his return to
| duty il was Gen. Bates who assumed command
of the brigade.
| AS a brigade commander in several advances
| toward the SOuthsidG Railroad, in command on
the Bermuda front aud north of the James, al
though not directly engaged in any heavy
fighting, his command was always in readiness
for what might happen, and the Commanding
| General knew that when an order was sem
him it would be obeyed to the letter Wher
the Tenth Corps was re0rganized in February
1865 Gen. Bates was assigned to the command
Of the First Brigade, Third Division, which
position be held until the brigade was discon
| tinued
During the Summer Of 1865 the General wa
stationed at Beau ort, n. c., and later at New
Berne, assisting in the work of reconstruction
which was then going on.
Very conservative in his ideas, he gained tn,
good will Of the citizens By exercising hi
powers for the protection Of person and prop
erty for both black and white, and interferin,
as little as possible with their politics or thei
freedom.
At the close of the year 1865, there being III
further need for troops in North Carolina, hi
command was ordered to Baltimore for muster
out.
For the past Is years Gen. Bates has been
resident of Aurora, Neb, witnessing in tina
time a city of 1000 inhabitants grow up on tn
beautiful Western prairie He is now Quar-
termastor of Chandler Post, No. Al. GAR
Secretary of Shekinah Chapter r. A. Nj; K. Il
and S. of Mystic Lodge. K. p; Commander o
the Uniformed Rank; Director of the Buildin
Association. Vice President of the First Ma
tional Bank, aud Mayor of the city. In eacl
of these positions the same intelligent appre
cistion and fearless discharge of duty is see
as characterized his work in the army.
I