Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Colonel Delavan Bates received the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 30, 1864 at Cemetery Hill, Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 30th U.S. Colored Troops. Bates was 24 years old.
21 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on June 22, 1891, 26 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Brigadier General.
Bates was born on March 17, 1840 in Richmondville, Schoharie County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Mohawk, Herkimer County, New York. Bates died on December 19, 1918 in Aurora, Nebraska, at the age of 78. He is buried at Aurora Cemetery in Aurora, Nebraska.
Bates is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Gallantry in action where he fell, shot through the face, at the head of his regiment.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Places
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Timeline
- March 17, 1840Born in Richmondville, Schoharie County, New York
- July 30, 1864Act of valor — Cemetery Hill, Petersburg, VirginiaAge 24. 30th U.S. Colored Troops
- June 22, 1891Medal of Honor presented
- December 19, 1918Died in Aurora, NebraskaAge 78.
- Resting placeAurora CemeteryAurora, Nebraska
Biography
Delavan Bates (March 17, 1840 – December 19, 1918) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Bates was awarded the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action on Cemetery Hill in Petersburg, Virginia during the Battle of the Crater on 30 July 1864. He was honored with the award on 22 June 1891.
From the Wikipedia article “Delavan Bates”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
