Robert B. Bates

Robert B. Bates was born September 1, 1845 in Georgia.  He is the son of Elias Ezekiel Bates and Margaret Roberts Bates.  He is the eighth child of nine.  Robert joined the service in Dalton, Georgia to the rank of Private,  Company A,  34th Georgia Infantry. 

Robert lived through his term in service and married Mary Louise Hammock on November 22, 1866 in Whitfield County, Georgia.  Robert drew his war pension until his death on April 14, 1917.  He died in Apison, Tennessee. 

The 34th was formed in the spring of 1862 and was comprised largely of farmers who had originally seen their duty to be that of tilling the soil and supplying troops in Virginia with food. Company B was formed at Canton Georgia (Camp McDonald) in May 1862. The Brand brothers  enlisted the 13th. of May. Field officers were Colonel James A. W. Johnson, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Bradley, Major Thomas T. Dorough, and Major John T. Jackson.

The regiment was sent to Chattanooga on June 26th. 1862 in response to Major General Edmund Kirby Smith's request for more troops from Georgia. This request was made to Governor Joseph E. Brown on June 25th and on this same date President Jefferson Davis responds to a previous letter from General Smith asking for the assignment of a brigadier general for the Georgia troops. Brigadier General Henry Heth had been ordered to Chattanooga to assume command of the Georgia regiments. In addition to the 34th., These regiments were the 36th.,39th.,40th.,42nd.,43rd.,and the 52nd. The Georgia Brigade was at this point under the command of Colonel E. P. Watkins.

On July 3rd. the 34th.was assigned to Ledbetter's Brigade, Heth's Division. On July 14th. Major General E. Kirby Smith writes to president Jefferson Davis that Heth's division  and General McCown's Division will hold Chattanooga and all approaches.

August 4th. Ledbetter's Brigade is ordered to Clinton Tennessee in support of Stevenson's forces in Tazewell. This was in an attempt to check the advance of General Buell's Federal invasion force. Stevenson's troops were to be placed in the direct path of this force. On August 7th.the order was countermanded and the brigade is sent directly to Tazewell. September 6th. Ledbetter's Brigade was ordered to Lebanon Kentucky via Springfield to attack a reported enemy force. Upon arrival it was found there were no Union troops there.