James Allen Bates

He enlisted as a Private in Company F of the 12th New York State Militia on 19 April 1861 and mustered out with them on 5 August. He then enrolled on 8 September 1861 in New York City, and mustered as First Lieutenant of Company F, 12th New York Infantry on 10 December 1861.

He was with his Company at Antietam on 17 September 1862.

He was promoted to Captain, Company D on 14 December 1862. He was discharged for disability 21 April 1864 and was appointed First Lieutenant, 166th Company, 2nd Battalion, Veteran Reserve Corps on 3 June 1864. He served with them at Point Lookout, MD and with the Freedman's Bureau in Richmond, VA, and was promoted to Captain on 15 March 1865. He mustered out of the VRC on 2 October 1866. He was honored by brevets to Major and Lieutenant Colonel of Volunteers for his war service.

He was appointed Captain, 43rd United States Infantry on 28 July 1866 and was brevetted again, in March 1867, to Major and Lieutenant Colonel, USA for his actions at Gaines Mill and Malvern Hill, VA in 1862. He retired on 15 December 1870, most recently at Fort Wayne in Detroit, MI.

In 1880 he was in Lyme, CT living in his shipbuilder father-in-law Henry Tracy Comstock's home, listed as "Col, US Army."

His service from the Adjutant General,1 Heitman,2 and Henry.3 Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1870 and 1880. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Laura Comstock (1846-1905) in October 1870 and they had two children.

His papers from his service in the VRC are in the Library of Virginia [finding aid].

08/20/1840; Glasgow, Lanarkshire, SCOTLAND

03/24/1908; Washington, DC; burial in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA