Major General Alfred Elliott Bates
2nd US Federal Cavalry
Husband of Caroline McCorkle Bates
*Major General Alfred Elliott Bates was born on a farm west of the city in Monroe County, Mi. and received his education in the public schools. He was plowing a field when he first heard that a call for troops had been issued in 1861, dropped his plow, walked to town and inlisted in the Smith Guards volunteer company that was just forming. He immediately left with the company to go to Adrian to be mustered into the United States service, but while there attracted the attention of Judge Beason, district Congressman, who appointed the young private to cadet ship at West Point just a few days before his 21st birthday. He graduated in 1865, never getting the chance to serve during the war. He saw much service in the Indian Wars in the West, serving as lieutenant, captain, and adjutant of the Second Cavalry, Troop B, until 1875. His most notable engagements were with the northern Arapahoes in 1874 and Sioux in the Sweetwater mountains, nine days later; being the largest victory ever gained by one troop. He was appointed paymaster-general on March 3, 1876, with the rank of major and held that commission until appointed major-general, serving several western states, Texas, Washington D.C., and New York, and in 1898, during the Spanish War, was appointed military attache at the American embassy at St. James court in London, England; was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers and also served as military attache to the embassy in Paris. Discharged Oct. 31, 1898, from the volunteer service and returned to the United States, serving again as Paymaster-General of the Army, and obtaining the rank of Major-General on Jan. 21, 1894. In January, 1904, retired after 40 years of service. In May of 1906, he was sent to San Francisco after the earthquake, to look after the accounting department of the Red Cross. In his five years of retirement, Alfred made many and frequent trips home, to visit family. He was at the last family birthday celebration for his father, before he passed away.
Alfred Bates, one of the best known older officers of the U.S. Army, died at the age of 69 years, in New York after taken ill. His wife, Caroline McCorkle, whom he married in 1875, had arrived a week earlier from their home in Massachusetts, so Mrs. Bates could take a steamer to Europe. Soon after he waved her goodbye, he became ill and was critical, becoming unconscious, and finally the war department located his two children, living in New York, and they remained by his side till death, with his wife not knowing of the death of her husband till months later.
The farmer from Monroe County, Michigan, who dropped his plow, and walked about seven miles to town, to enlist forty-eight years earlier, had reached the top of his chosen profession.
Cullum's Register 2063 has burial in Woodland Cemetery, Monroe, Monroe County, Michigan.
*Alfred has another marker at the Military Academy Post Cemetery at West Point. Woodland Cemetery records have him buried here. Alfred was buried on October 16, 1909, not 12 days after his death on Oct. 25, 1909. New York death certificate also has Oct. 16 as burial date, but in New Jersey. Maybe another marker.
Major General Alfred Elliott Bates
2nd US Federal Cavalry
Husband of Caroline McCorkle Bates
*Major General Alfred Elliott Bates was born on a farm west of the city in Monroe County, Mi. and received his education in the public schools. He was plowing a field when he first heard that a call for troops had been issued in 1861, dropped his plow, walked to town and inlisted in the Smith Guards volunteer company that was just forming. He immediately left with the company to go to Adrian to be mustered into the United States service, but while there attracted the attention of Judge Beason, district Congressman, who appointed the young private to cadet ship at West Point just a few days before his 21st birthday. He graduated in 1865, never getting the chance to serve during the war. He saw much service in the Indian Wars in the West, serving as lieutenant, captain, and adjutant of the Second Cavalry, Troop B, until 1875. His most notable engagements were with the northern Arapahoes in 1874 and Sioux in the Sweetwater mountains, nine days later; being the largest victory ever gained by one troop. He was appointed paymaster-general on March 3, 1876, with the rank of major and held that commission until appointed major-general, serving several western states, Texas, Washington D.C., and New York, and in 1898, during the Spanish War, was appointed military attache at the American embassy at St. James court in London, England; was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers and also served as military attache to the embassy in Paris. Discharged Oct. 31, 1898, from the volunteer service and returned to the United States, serving again as Paymaster-General of the Army, and obtaining the rank of Major-General on Jan. 21, 1894. In January, 1904, retired after 40 years of service. In May of 1906, he was sent to San Francisco after the earthquake, to look after the accounting department of the Red Cross. In his five years of retirement, Alfred made many and frequent trips home, to visit family. He was at the last family birthday celebration for his father, before he passed away.
Alfred Bates, one of the best known older officers of the U.S. Army, died at the age of 69 years, in New York after taken ill. His wife, Caroline McCorkle, whom he married in 1875, had arrived a week earlier from their home in Massachusetts, so Mrs. Bates could take a steamer to Europe. Soon after he waved her goodbye, he became ill and was critical, becoming unconscious, and finally the war department located his two children, living in New York, and they remained by his side till death, with his wife not knowing of the death of her husband till months later.
The farmer from Monroe County, Michigan, who dropped his plow, and walked about seven miles to town, to enlist forty-eight years earlier, had reached the top of his chosen profession.
Cullum's Register 2063 has burial in Woodland Cemetery, Monroe, Monroe County, Michigan.
*Alfred has another marker at the Military Academy Post Cemetery at West Point. Woodland Cemetery records have him buried here. Alfred was buried on October 16, 1909, not 12 days after his death on Oct. 25, 1909. New York death certificate also has Oct. 16 as burial date, but in New Jersey. Maybe another marker.
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