William Calvin Oates (1833 - 1910)

Born 30 Nov 1833 in Pike, Alabama, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Toney) Oates — married 28 Mar 1882 in Eufaula, Barbour County, Alabama, United States

Died 9 Sep 1910 at age 76 in Montgomery, Alabama, United States

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Preceded by
Thomas G. Jones

29th Governor of Alabama
1894 - 1896

Succeeded by
Joseph F. Johnston

Biography

William Oates is Notable.

William C. Oates was an American lawyer, politician and soldier. He was a Colonel in the Confederate army during the Civil War, a member of the United States House of Representatives, the 29th Governor of the State of Alabama, and a Brigadier General during the Spanish-American War.

Early Life and Pre-War Career

William Calvin Oates was born on November 30, 1833, in Pike County, Alabama. Oates was the son of William and Sarah (Seller) Oates. ^[1] Oates was the oldest of (at least) eight children. Oates left home at the age of sixteen; he returned a year later. In 1850, Oates fled to Florida after fracturing a man's skull in a bawl. For several years, Oates was a drifter and had various jobs. Oates returned to Alabama and eventually studied law. and was admitted to the Alabama bar. ^[2]

Military Career

On July 3, 1861, Oates entered the Confederate army and was appointed a captain in 15th Regiment, Alabama Infantry. By the spring of 1863, he was commander of the 15th Regiment. Oates fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. Oates led his regiment on a series of charges on Little Round Top. His brother, John Oates, was killed in combat there. Oates believed if his regiment had succeeded in taking Little Round Top, the Confederates would have won at Gettysburg. Oates also participated in the battles of Chickamauga, the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House. ^[3]

In July 1864, Colonel Oates transferred to the 48th Regiment, Alabama Infantry. Oates was severely wounded in the Battle of Fussel's Mill and lost his right arm. That was Oates 27th battle. ^[4]

Post War Career

After the War, Oates returned to Alabama and practiced law and then became active in politics. In 1865, Oates became a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. From 1870 to 1872, Oates served in the Alabama House of Representatives. From 1881 to 1894, Oats was a member of the United States House of Representatives representing Alabama's 3rd District. In 1894, Oates was elected as the 29th Governor of the State of Alabama. In 1898, President McKinley appointed Oates to the rank of Brigadier General; he served during the Spanish-American War. ^{[5] [6]}

Death

Thereafter, Oates participated in Confederate reunions and wrote an account of the war, The War Between the Union and the Confederacy (1905). William Calvin Oates died on September 9, 1910. He was buried in there at the Oakwood Cemetery. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5901994/william-calvin-oates: accessed 28 June 2023), memorial page for William Calvin Oates (30 Nov 1833–9 Sep 1910), Find a Grave Memorial ID 5901994, citing Oakwood Cemetery, Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.
2. ↑ The Life of William Calvin Oates And history of the 15th Alabama Infantry, OatesFamily.com (PDF). https://oatesfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/The-Life-of-William-Calvin-Oates.pdf
3. ↑ William C. Oates | Military Wiki | Fandom. https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/William_C._Oates
4. ↑ William C. Oates | American Battlefield Trust. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/william-c-oates
5. ↑ OATES, William Calvin | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives, United States House of Representatives. https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/O/OATES,-William-Calvin-(O000005)/
6. ↑ William C. Oates | American Battlefield Trust. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/william-c-oates
7. ↑ Oates, William Calvin - Encyclopedia of Alabama. https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/william-calvin-oates-1894-96/

See also:

• Wikipedia: William C. Oates

• Wikidata: Item Q887318

• "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHK8-2YM : 12 April 2016), William C Oates, Alabama, United States; citing p. 1, family 1, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,518.

• https://books.google.com/books/about/The_War_Between_the_Union_and_the_Confed.html?id=IMgvAQAAMAAJ&hl=en The War Between the Union and the Confederacy, and Its Lost Opportunities, with a History of the 15th Alabama Regiment and the Forty-eight Battles in which it was Engaged]

• The Toney Family History, Henning and Rummel, pg 489