Soldier. He was a son of Lemuel Gates, an officer in the American army during the Revolution. He was graduated at the U.S. military academy in 1806, and served in the artillery in garrison, 1806-12. He was promoted captain in 1813 and was acting adjutant of light artillery and aide to Gen. Peter B. Porter in the operations on the Canada border where he was a participant in the capture of York and of Fort George. He was made captain of the 2d U.S. artillery in June, 1821, and brevetted major in 1823. He was stationed at Fort Moultrie, Charleston harbor, in 1832 during the nullification movement and on the outbreak of the troubles with the Indian chief Osceola in 1835 he was sent to Florida to assist in subduing the army of Cherokee Indians and fugitive slaves commanded by Osceola, who maintained his ground with skill and energy for nearly two years. Osceola was arrested with several companions by Major Gates, Oct. 21, 1837, while under a flag of truce near St. Augustine, and confined in Fort Moultrie, where he died. The arrest was made by order of General Jesup as Osceola had repeatedly disregarded the sanctity of a treaty and was treacherous in the extreme. Major Gates afterward escorted the Cherokees to the Indian reservation beyond the Mississippi. He was promoted to colonel and commanded the 3d artillery in the Mexican war. He was governor of Tampico, Mexico, 1846-48, and on returning to the United States was on garrison duty, retiring from active service in 1863. In 1865 he was brevetted brigadier-general in the regular establishment for "long and faithful service". His son was Major Collinswood Gates, after whom Fort Gates in Texas was named.
Soldier. He was a son of Lemuel Gates, an officer in the American army during the Revolution. He was graduated at the U.S. military academy in 1806, and served in the artillery in garrison, 1806-12. He was promoted captain in 1813 and was acting adjutant of light artillery and aide to Gen. Peter B. Porter in the operations on the Canada border where he was a participant in the capture of York and of Fort George. He was made captain of the 2d U.S. artillery in June, 1821, and brevetted major in 1823. He was stationed at Fort Moultrie, Charleston harbor, in 1832 during the nullification movement and on the outbreak of the troubles with the Indian chief Osceola in 1835 he was sent to Florida to assist in subduing the army of Cherokee Indians and fugitive slaves commanded by Osceola, who maintained his ground with skill and energy for nearly two years. Osceola was arrested with several companions by Major Gates, Oct. 21, 1837, while under a flag of truce near St. Augustine, and confined in Fort Moultrie, where he died. The arrest was made by order of General Jesup as Osceola had repeatedly disregarded the sanctity of a treaty and was treacherous in the extreme. Major Gates afterward escorted the Cherokees to the Indian reservation beyond the Mississippi. He was promoted to colonel and commanded the 3d artillery in the Mexican war. He was governor of Tampico, Mexico, 1846-48, and on returning to the United States was on garrison duty, retiring from active service in 1863. In 1865 he was brevetted brigadier-general in the regular establishment for "long and faithful service". His son was Major Collinswood Gates, after whom Fort Gates in Texas was named.
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