James Lawrence Bates (1820 - 1875)

Born 11 Aug 1820 in Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Betsey Dyer (Loud) Bates — married 16 Apr 1851 in Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States

Husband of Mary Jane (Tirrell) Bates — married 24 Jan 1856 in Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States

Died 11 Nov 1875 at age 55 in Weymouth, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Colonel James Bates served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Jun 26, 1861
Mustered out: Jul 8, 1864
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 12th Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry; 33rd Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry

James L. Bates was born about 1821.^[1]

James first married Betsey Dyer Loud in 1851. He married Mary Jane Tirrell Hersey in 1852.

Children:

1. James Wilmot Bates
2. Annie Tirrell Bates
3. Betsey Tirrell Bates

Prior to the Civil War, Bates was a merchant in the leather trade.^[2]

American Civil War

On June 26, 1861, James L. Bates was was commissioned as Captain of Company H of the 12th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. At the time of his commission, James was 40 years old.^[1]

On August 5, 1862, Bates was promoted to Major of the 33rd Massachusetts. However, when Colonel Webster of his former regiment was killed during the Second Battle of Bull Run, Bates was chosen to take his place.^[2] He was commissioned Colonel of the 12th Massachusetts on September 9, and mustered in on September 19, two days after the regiment suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Antietam.^[1] [alternately: commissioned Sep 5^[2]]

Bates was wounded during the Battle of Gettysburg, on July 1, 1863. He mustered out with the 12th Massachusetts on July 8, 1864.^[1]

In December 1868, Bate was given the honored rank of Brevet Brigadier General for his "gallant and meritorious service".^[2]

After the War

General Bates was first commander of Reynolds Post #58, formed July 14, 1868.^[3]

In 1870, he was Commander of the Department of Massachusetts of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.).^[2]

James L. Bates died on November 11, 1875. He was 55 years old. He is buried at Highland Cemetery in Weymouth, Massachusetts.^[4]

Research Notes

Information to confirm/incorporate into biography:

• "During May and June 1864, Bates commanded the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division of the V Corps. In this capacity, after the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Bates intercepted intelligence which ultimately affected the movement of the Army of the Potomac during the Overland Campaign for which he received the thanks of Lt. Gen. Ulysses Grant."^[5]
• "General Bates distinguished himself in the Civil War." —Tirrell book, page 216^[6]
• Chamberlain Genealogies of Weymouth
• NEHGS: Marriage record states Leather Dealer (2nd marr, Mary J. TIrrell, 1856)

• From Edmund S Soper's Weymouth Ways and Weymouth People - Reminiscences, pub 1907

Daniel Webster said on this occasion that for the leader of the Free Spoils party to become the leader of the Free Soil party would be a joke to shake his sides. From the time of Jackson's administration down to 1845, the town was Democratic. At this time the new party, made up of the old Anti-Slavery Whigs who had followed Henry Clay, and many disaffected Democrats, were so strong in town as to be able to defeat the candidates nominated by the Democrats, and after much balloting it was decided to send but one Representative to the General Court. James L. Bates was chosen at this time.

In the two following years the town was not represented, the new party being strong enough to prevent an election of their opponents, but not strong enough to choose one of their own. In 1848 came the Presidential election, and the Free Soil party was but just organized. There was a great political right in town between them and the Democrats. After this date the Whigs were of little note.

The fall town-meeting for the choice of Representatives to the General Court was held in the Universalist Church in this village. It was the largest town-meeting known up to that time, and it was so large that the house could not be polled but adjourned to the street, and a long procession was formed from Washington Square to the Academy Hill, and then was counted. On the question of dividing the town there was no choice.

The next year John C. Rhines, Sr., and Noah Vining, Jr., both being Democrats, were chosen Representatives. Foremost in the political campaigns in the village were Alherton, Charles, Richard, and El bridge Hunt, Thomas and Whitcomb Porter, Adoram Clapp, and as I remember him, Nathaniel Want-hard, the most active man of all. He always seemed to be working lor someone other than himself, for I do not find his name among the town officers. I have not included my

crly occupied by Luke Bicknell, but now by the heirs of the late Mr. John E. Hunt.

Thomas Davis, called "Tinker" Davis, was the tinman who mended the milk-pails and pans for the village folks. His little shop stood just by Caleb Hunt's, near Smelt Brook.

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On December 26, 1860, on his own responsibility, Major Robert Anderson, in command of the United States forces in Charleston harbor, transferred his garrison from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, and the eyes of the whole country were thereafter fixed and all thoughts were concentrated on this single point of danger.There are many to-day who will remember the meeting at the Town Hall addressed by John W. Loud and others of the town, urging the young men to enlist, and the marching into the hall of a troop of boys headed by the Lintons, E. F., Augustus and P. Henry, with fife and drum, creating the greatest enthusiasm. The Weymouth Union Guards, Company H, Twelfth Regiment, M. V. M., was organized, with James L. Bates, Captain, Charles W. Hastings and Francis B. Pratt, First and Second Lieutenants. The Lintons and many others enlisted in the Eleventh Regiment, " Fighting Colonel " Blaisdell commanding.

Company H was encamped near the Town Hall, and it was a stirring time when they struck their tents and marched down the turnpike (Washington street) to the depot, preparatory to leaving town, where their relatives and friends gathered to bid them good-by, — many for the last time.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War, Vol. II (comp. Adjutant General). Norwood, Mass.: Norwood Press (1931). p. 3, 48.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Bowen, James Lorenzo. Massachusetts in the War, 1861-1865. Springfield, Ma.: Clark W. Bryan & Co. (1889).p. 887.
3. ↑ Nash, Gilbert. Historical Sketch of Weymouth, p. 82, 139.
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/6038274/james-lawrence-bates : accessed 9 August 2021), memorial page for James Lawrence Bates (11 Aug 1820–11 Nov 1875), Find A Grave: Memorial #6038274, citing Highland Cemetery, Weymouth, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave.
5. ↑ Wikipedia
6. ↑ Tirrell, Robert Wilson. The Tirrell-Tirrill-Terrill-Tyrrell Book. Baltimore, Maryland: Deford & Company, 1969.

• Norfolk County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1793-1877. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2019. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives. Digitized mages provided by FamilySearch.org) Case 1249: Will
• "Funeral of Gen. James L. Bates." The New York Times, November 15, 1875.
• Patrick Browne, "12th Massachusetts Infantry at Gettysburg", Historical Digression, July 1, 2014.
• WikiTree profile Bates-1660 created through the import of oldweymouth families072011.GED on Jul 5, 2011 by Alyson X.
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6038274/james-lawrence-bates
• https://www.fold3.com/memorial/658271776/james-lawrence-bates-civil-war-stories/facts
• Battle of Gettysburg, Union Order of Battle