Elijah Gates

Elijah Gates (December 17, 1827 in Garrard County, Kentucky March 4, 1915 in St. Joseph, Missouri) was an American politician, and colonel in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.

Elijah Gates
State Treasurer of Missouri
In office
1877–1881
Personal details
Born(1827-12-17)December 17, 1827
Garrard County, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedMarch 4, 1915(1915-03-04) (aged 87)
St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S.
NationalityUnited States
Spouse(s)Maria Stamper
Children12
ResidenceBuchanan County, Missouri
St. Joseph, Missouri
OccupationSheriff, politician, U.S. Marshal
ProfessionArmy officer, farmer
Military service
Allegiance Confederate States of America
Branch/service Confederate States Army
Years of service1861–1865
Rank Colonel
Commands1st Missouri Cavalry Regiment
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
Battle of Pea Ridge
Siege of Corinth
Battle of Iuka
Second Battle of Corinth
Battle of Champion Hill
Battle of Big Black River
Siege of Vicksburg
Atlanta Campaign
Battle of Allatoona
Battle of Franklin
Battle of Fort Blakely

Early and personal life

He moved to Platte County, Missouri, in around 1846,[1] and subsequently settled on a farm in Buchanan County. In 1852, he married Maria Stamper, and they had twelve children.[2]

Military career

At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate Army, starting as a captain in the Missouri State Guard under the command of General Sterling Price, and was later promoted to colonel of the 1st Missouri Cavalry Regiment. He commanded his regiment at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas in March 1862, during the Siege of Corinth, Mississippi, and at the Battles of Iuka, Second Corinth, Champion Hill, Big Black River Bridge and at the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi. In 1864, Gates participated in the Atlanta Campaign and the Battle of Allatoona, Georgia, and lost an arm at the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee. During his service, he was wounded five times, captured by Union forces three times, and had four horses shot from underneath him. On April 9, 1865, the same day Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, Colonel Gates was engaged in one of the last battles of the Civil War, the Battle of Fort Blakely in Alabama.[2]

Political career

Following the war, Gates returned to his farm. In 1874, he was elected as Sheriff of Buchanan County, serving in that post until 1877. From 1877 to 1881, he served as State Treasurer of Missouri. Following his tenure as State Treasurer, he served as United States Marshal for the Western District of Missouri under President Grover Cleveland, and was engaged in the transfer and bus business in St. Joseph, Missouri until his death at 87 years old.[2]

References

  1. Moving to Platte County, Missouri, in c. 1846: Kansas City Public Library website. Retrieved on February 19, 2008.
  2. : Missouri State Treasurer website. Retrieved on March 2, 2014.
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