Henry Yates (1835 - 1871)

Born 7 Mar 1835 in Berlin, Sangamon County, Illinois, USA

Died 3 Oct 1871 at age 36 in Berlin, Sangamon County, Illinois, USA

Biography

Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. Yates was a merchant in Berlin, Illinois, who sold his business in order to enter the army with the start of the Civil War. As the brother of Richard Yates, the war governor of Illinois, he raised a company of men, which became Company A of the 106th Illinois Infantry. He was commissioned a captain on September 17, 1862, promoted to lieutenant colonel on April 10, 1863, and made commanding Colonel of the regiment on April 8, 1864. The 106th Illinois Infantry was assigned to provast duty at Jackson, Tennessee and as a railroad guard in western Tennessee from September of 1862 until March of 1863. After a brief stint in Bolivar, Tennessee, they were sent to Vicksburg, Mississippi where they served in the seige of Vicksburg from June 9, 1863 to July 4, 1863. On July 29, 1863, they were ordered to Helena, Arkansas. They participated in General Steele's expedition against Little Rock, Arkansas which resulted in the fall of Little Rock on September 10, 1863. The 106th Illinois Infantry remained in Little Rock until October 26, 1863 when it began a pursuiit of Marmaduke's forces in Missouri between October 26 and November 1. Under Colonel Yates, the 106th Illinois conducted operations against General Shelby north of the Arkansas River between May 13, 1864 and May 31, 1864. He also led an expedition between Little Rock and Mt. Elba from January 22, 1865 to February 4, 1865. On March 13, 1865 Yates was brevetted brigadier general of volunteers "for gallant and meritorious services during the war." He was mustered out and discharged with his unit on July 24, 1865.

Bio by: Thomas Fisher

Sources

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40465991/henry-yates