Oliver's Story - Funeral of Oliver Stanton Bates

Thursday, September 1, 1864

Today a solemn funeral mass in honor of Private Oliver Stanton Bates of Company A was attended at the Methodist Church in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Oliver's hometown. Two notices appeared in the Pittsfield Sun newspaper today that reported Oliver's death and funeral.

BATES - At Slough Hospital, Alexandria, Va., Oliver S. Bates, aged 24, a member of Co. A, 20th Mass. Regiment, and son of J. Dwight Bates of this town¹

The funeral of Oliver S. Bates, a member of Co. A, 20th Mass. Regiment, who was wounded in one of the battles before Petersburg will be attended this afternoon from the Methodist Church.²

References:
¹Pittsfield Sun (Pittsfield, Massachusetts), 1 September 1864, p.3.
²Pittsfield Sun (Pittsfield, Massachusetts), 1 September 1864, p.3.

Oliver's Story - In Memoriam - Oliver Stanton Bates

Friday, August 19, 1864

Oliver Stanton Bates of Company A of the 20th Massachusetts Regiment died today at Slough Barracks Military Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia. He was severely wounded while serving on picket duty along the Jerusalem Plank Road in Petersburg on June 24 and his leg required immediate amputation on the battlefield. After a two-month struggle at Slough Hospital he succumbed to his wounds. ¹

His body was embalmed for transport to his home in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He is buried in the Bates Family Plot at Pittsfield Cemetery.

Before the Civil War Oliver was a harness maker in Pittsfield. He was a man of modest means. At the time of Oliver's death embalming was an expensive procedure, and his family did not have the money to pay for preparing his body for the journey home. I have read about the kindness extended by officers of the 20th Massachusetts Regiment to their fallen enlisted men, and I am certain that one or more of the officers extended this kindness to Oliver and his family by paying for the burial ritual so his body could be sent home. Oliver was one of the few veteran volunteers still alive in his regiment at the time of his death. I am deeply grateful to the officers and enlisted men of the 20th Massachusetts for their generosity to Oliver and his family. ²

References:
¹Compiled service record, Oliver S. Bates, Pvt., Co. A, 20th Massachusetts Infantry; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
²Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 280-81, 315-17.

Oliver's Story - Transport to Slough Barracks Hospital

Wednesday, June 29, 1864

Private Oliver Stanton Bates of Company A was transported for care to Slough Barracks Hospital in Alexandria.¹

References:
¹Compiled service record, Oliver S. Bates, Pvt., Co. A, 20th Massachusetts Infantry; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Oliver's Story - Severe Wounding at Petersburg

Friday, June 24, 1864

Private Oliver Stanton Bates of Company A was severely wounded today at Petersburg. Oliver was struck in his left leg by shrapnel from an exploding Confederate shell while serving on picket duty .

He was transported to the field hospital at City Point where his left leg was amputated at the knee joint by Second Division Chief Surgeon Nathan Hayward. ¹

References:
¹Compiled service record, Oliver S. Bates, Pvt., Co. A, 20th Massachusetts Infantry; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Oliver's Story - The Bloody Angle

Thursday, May 12, 1864

Private Oliver Stanton Bates was reported as wounded on his military service record on May 12, 1864 during the conflict at the Bloody Angle at Spotsylvania. The nature of his wounding is not detailed, but he was present on muster rolls for May and June 1864. ¹

References:
¹Compiled service record, Oliver S. Bates, Pvt., Co. A, 20th Massachusetts Infantry; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Oliver's Story - Battle of the Wilderness

Saturday, May 7, 1864

Private Oliver Stanton Bates miraculously survived the hellish encounter of the Wilderness. He was not listed among the wounded on casualty lists or on his service record, and once again was extremely fortunate to escape injury and death.¹

References:
¹Compiled service record, Oliver S. Bates, Pvt., Co. A, 20th Massachusetts Infantry; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Oliver's Story - Re-enlistment for Three Years Service

Saturday, March 19, 1864

This day, at winter camp in Stevensburg, Virginia, Private Oliver Stanton Bates re-enlisted for three additional years of military service with Company A of the Twentieth Massachusetts as a veteran volunteer. Upon re-enlistment as a veteran volunteer Oliver was granted five weeks of furlough from March 23 to April 28.

Oliver was twenty-three years old at the time of his re-enlistment.¹

References:
¹Compiled service record, Oliver S. Bates, Pvt., Co. A, 20th Massachusetts Infantry; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Oliver's Story - Return to Service

Friday, January 15, 1864

Private Oliver Stanton Bates returned to military service with Company A of the Twentieth Massachusetts during the month of January. This was his first service with the Twentieth Massachusetts since Gettysburg, where he was severely wounded during the repulse of Pickett's Charge at the Angle on July 3, 1863. His exact date of return is unclear from his military records, but he was reported present during January 1864 muster rolls.¹

References:
¹Compiled service record, Oliver S. Bates, Pvt., Co. A, 20th Massachusetts Infantry; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Oliver's Story - Battle of Gettysburg

Friday, July 3, 1863

The Twentieth Massachusetts suffered heavy casualties at Gettysburg, particularly during the hand-to-hand combat to seal the Union line at the Angle near the copse of trees. Private Oliver Stanton Bates was most likely wounded during this hand-to-hand fighting. His service records state that he received a head wound, but no other details concerning his wounding were listed. Apparently his wounding was severe, as he did not report again for military duty until January 1864. This six-month interlude after Gettysburg was the only time during his entire military service that he did not report for duty.¹

References:
¹Compiled service record, Oliver S. Bates, Pvt., Co. A, 20th Massachusetts Infantry; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Oliver's Story - Petition to Governor Andrew

Friday, June 12, 1863

Private Oliver Stanton Bates of Company A was one of the many signatures on the petition to Massachusetts Governor John Andrew requesting the removal of Sumner Paine from command. It is unclear from available records whether or not Oliver was an object of Paine’s disciplinary actions or the dislike for Paine was so prevalent among the enlisted men of the regiment that Oliver signed in solidarity to his comrades. At the time of the petition Paine was in charge of Company G but at Gettysburg Paine was in charge of Company A, the company in which Oliver remained for the entire length of his service with the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment.¹

References:
¹Petition to Governor John Andrew from the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 12 June 1863, Massachusetts State Archives.

Oliver's Story - Battle of Second Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville

Tuesday, May 5, 1863

Oliver Stanton Bates survived another battle during the three day campaign of Second Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. He was not listed among the wounded on casualty lists or on his service record, and once again was very fortunate to escape injury.¹

References:
¹Compiled service record, Oliver S. Bates, Pvt., Co. A, 20th Massachusetts Infantry; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Oliver's Story - Battle of Fredericksburg

Saturday, December 13, 1862

Oliver Stanton Bates survived another hellish battle during the three day siege at Fredericksburg. Oliver was heavily engaged in the street fighting on December 11, as Company A, one of the leading companies in the advance along Hawke Street, sealed the right flank of the intersection at Hawke and Caroline Streets in a maelstrom of gunfire. On December 13 Oliver was injured during the attack on Marye's Heights, very likely during the second attempt to take the Heights. Captain Henry Abbott of Company I reported that sixty-three men were killed or wounded in a matter of minutes during this assault. The severity of Oliver's wounding is not stated on his military service record, but he was present for muster rolls in January 1863.¹

References:
¹Compiled service record, Oliver S. Bates, Pvt., Co. A, 20th Massachusetts Infantry; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 202. Francis Augustin O'Reilly, The Fredericksburg Campaign: Winter War on the Rappahannock (Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press, 2003), 331.

Battle of Fredericksburg - Day 3

Saturday, December 13, 1862

General Ambrose Burnside ordered General William Franklin's Left Grand Division to strike Confederate Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson south of Fredericksburg, and ordered General Edwin "Bull" Sumner's Right Grand Division and General Joseph Hooker's Center Grand Division to assault Confederate General James Longstreet at Marye's Heights.

Around 1:00 P.M. General Oliver Howard's division, of which the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment was a part, formed a line of battle and prepared for an assault on Marye's Heights. They witnessed the failed attempts of General William French and General Winfield Hancock's division during the late morning and early afternoon and were aware of the terrible carnage that befell these two divisions. They knew that their attack would be a desperate and futile attempt on a well-fortified position. Confederate artillery was securely positioned atop Marye's Heights, and the stone wall at the base of Marye's Heights afforded protection for Confederate rifleman lined behind the wall. The Twentieth Massachusetts had a slight advantage in that their division planned to attack north of the well-fortified stone wall at the base of Marye's Heights.

The Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment advanced along William Street toward the northern end of Marye's Heights. As they neared their objective they came under blistering rifle fire from Confederate infantry units that spanned William Street and were exposed to artillery fire from Confederate batteries atop Marye's Heights. Both exacted casualties in the Twentieth Massachusetts, who formed a line to return fire. Colonel Norman Hall realized the futility of the attack, but reformed his division for another assault which proved likewise futile. At their advanced position the Twentieth Massachusetts could not retreat but were forced to lie down on the ground and seek cover. As darkness fell they remained entrenched along William Street on their stomachs to avoid Confederate rifle and artillery fire as well as friendly fire from their own men positioned behind them.

Casualties were heavy among the Twentieth Massachusetts for the two days of battle at Fredericksburg. On December 11 and December 13 the regiment suffered one-third of its available strength in casualties. Among the wounded on December 13 was Private Oliver Stanton Bates of Company A.¹

References:
¹Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 208-216. George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 221.

Oliver's Story - Seven Days Battles

Monday, June 30, 1862

Private Oliver Stanton Bates had just experienced a grueling seventy-two hours of service with Company A of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment. On Saturday, June 28, he joined his comrades in Company A during a long day and evening of intense manual labor in pushing ammunition-laden railroad cars three miles to Savage Station. On Sunday, June 29, undoubtedly exhausted from the previous day’s exertion, he was immediately put to work in the destruction of the ammunition stores at Savage Station depot. In the afternoon, he fell into formation with his regiment, prepared for battle at Savage Station. At 10:00 P.M. he was ordered into the woods near Savage Station for picket duty and spent a grueling five hours stumbling through the darkness, hoping to avoid gunfire or capture before rejoining his regiment at 3:00 A.M. near White Oak Swamp Bridge. This morning he endured a grueling retreat through intense heat and smoke to White Oak Swamp Bridge before returning to Glendale in the afternoon to take part in a hellish battle. By the grace of God he endured the trials and challenges of the previous seventy-two hours without injury, and he was undoubtedly grateful and relieved that his life was spared during these tests of faith, endurance, and courage.¹

References:
¹Compiled service record, Oliver S. Bates, Pvt., Co. A, 20th Massachusetts Infantry; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Henry Tremlett, "Letters," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 2, p. 169-72, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts. George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 110-132. Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 137-52.

Oliver's Story - First Encounter at Yorktown

Monday, April 7, 1862

Company A was among the companies sent out as skirmishers in the reconnaissance, and was under temporary command of Lieutenant Charles Whittier due to the sickness of Captain Harry Tremlett. Private Oliver Stanton Bates was among the skirmishers in the reconnaissance. Although he did not leave a personal record of the account, he was undoubtedly grateful that the regiment escaped without casualties.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 82-83.

Oliver's Story - A Gift from the Home Front

Thursday, February 20, 1862

The women of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the hometown of Oliver Stanton Bates of Company A, sent a package to Camp Benton for the welfare of the soldiers. In gratitude the Pittsfield soldiers penned a letter of appreciation, which appeared in the Berkshire County Eagle newspaper:

To the ladies of Pittsfield: We the subscribers, soldiers of the 20th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, Company A, tender our sincere thanks for the interest taken by you in our welfare, in sending by express a large box containing blankets, stockings, etc., which we received yesterday and distributed for our comfort. We hope to repay you by a safe return to greet you with the assurance that we have tried to do our duty as soldiers, in assisting to put down rebellion and preserve our glorious Union. May God protect you in our absence, and shield you from the ravages of war, and make your hearts glad at some future period by the return of your friends that you hold dear. Remember us in your absence with your prayers and we remain yours, etc.¹

References:
¹"To the Ladies of Pittsfield," Berkshire County Eagle (Pittsfield, Massachusetts), 20 February 1862, p.2, col.2.

Oliver's Story - Ball's Bluff

Tuesday, October 22, 1861

Private Oliver Stanton Bates of Company A escaped injury and capture at the Battle of Ball's Bluff.  His name does not appear on the casualty list for Ball's Bluff in the Twentieth Massachusetts Regimental History and his military records do not include a casualty sheet for wounding.  In this episode he proved to be extremely resilient, as Company A reported the third highest casualties by company for the regiment, totaling 31 killed, wounded, or captured. Only the flank Companies D and H reported higher casualties at 37 and 32 respectively.¹

It is unclear from the records whether Oliver swam across the Potomac River or made the passage by boat. He owed his survival in large part to the resourcefulness of company commanders Henry Tremlett and Charles Whittier of Company A and William "Frank" Bartlett and Henry Abbott of Company I, who plotted an escape route along the river bank and remained until all the enlisted men made it safely across the river.²

References:
¹ Compiled service record, Oliver S. Bates, Pvt., Co. A, 20th Massachusetts Infantry; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.; George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 59-61.
² Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 77; Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Osgood and Company, 1878), 26-29.