Joshua Hall Bates facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joshua Hall Bates
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| Born | March 5, 1817 Boston, Massachusetts |
| Died | July 26, 1908 (aged 91) Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Place of burial |
Spring Grove Cemetery
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| Allegiance |  United States of AmericaUnion |
| Service/ |
 United States Army Ohio state militia (Union) |
| Years of service | 1837 – 1842; 1861 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General (Ohio State Militia) |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War • No combat duty |
Joshua Hall Bates (born March 5, 1817 – died July 26, 1908) was an important American figure. He was a lawyer and a politician. During the early part of the American Civil War, he served as a general in the Ohio state militia. He helped the Union side. Joshua Bates was very good at finding and organizing soldiers. He helped create many of the first groups of Ohio troops. These soldiers volunteered after President Abraham Lincoln asked for help in 1861.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Joshua Bates was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 5, 1817. His father, George Bates, was a doctor and a friend of President Andrew Jackson. His mother was Eliza Hall.
Joshua went to the United States Military Academy, also known as West Point. He graduated on July 1, 1837. After graduating, he became a second lieutenant in the artillery. He served in the regular army for five years. During this time, he was in Florida in 1837-1838. This was during the Seminole Wars, a conflict with Native American tribes. From 1839 to 1841, he was stationed in Cleveland, Ohio. This was during some border issues with Canada.
Joshua Bates left the army on July 20, 1842. He then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. There, he studied law and became a lawyer.
Family Life
On May 8, 1844, Joshua Bates married Elizabeth Dwight Hoadley. Her family was well-known in New England. Her father, George Hoadley, was an Ohio politician. Her brother, George Hoadly, later became the Governor of Ohio.
Joshua and Elizabeth had five children:
- Clement Bates (born April 1, 1845)
- Charles Jarvis Bates (born November 5, 1847)
- William Scarborough Bates (born February 7, 1852)
- Merrick Linley Bates (born June 14, 1855)
- James Harvey Simpson Bates (born August 28, 1863)
Civil War Contributions
Joshua Bates joined the Ohio state militia. He quickly became a brigadier general on April 27, 1861. He was put in charge of the Department of the Sanitary Commission. He also commanded Camp Harrison near Cincinnati.
Along with two other militia generals, he helped set up Camp Dennison. This was a very large military base north of Cincinnati. He played a big role in organizing fifteen groups of infantry soldiers for the war. However, Bates believed he was too old for combat at age 44. So, he resigned his general's position on August 27, 1861.
Defending Cincinnati
In the summer of 1863, Confederate forces threatened Cincinnati. Joshua Bates became the president of the Cincinnati Committee of Public Safety. He commanded a military division during this time. One of the forts built to protect Cincinnati was named Bates Battery in his honor. This fort was located in northern Kentucky.
Later Life and Legacy
After the Civil War, Joshua Bates went back to being a lawyer in Cincinnati. He also continued his work in politics. He served as a member of the Ohio State Senate from 1864 to 1866. He was a state senator again from 1876 to 1878. From 1881 to 1882, he was the president of the Cincinnati Bar Association. This is a group for lawyers in Cincinnati.
Joshua Bates was also a member of two important historical societies. In 1892, he joined the Aztec Club of 1847. He was also a veteran member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.
Joshua Bates passed away on July 26, 1908, in Cincinnati. He was 91 years old. He is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati. Many other Union Army generals are also buried there.
