Monte Allen Bates, Sr.

by Ethel Mae KinKade

Monte Allen Bates was the oldest son of Thomas Jefferson and Flora Bates. Monte was born in Arkansas on 23 Apr 1895 in Huntington, Arkansas. In 1904, with his parents, he moved from Arkansas to Oregon, traveling by train. Before the family moved to Oregon, one of the houses where they lived caught on fire and burned. Monte remembered that as he was upstairs he had to jump out the second story window to safety. His daughter, Helen related this info and said that her father was very afraid all through his life when he smelled smoke.

He was a veteran of World War I. Monte was enlisted on June 24, 1918 into the United States Army at Roseburg, Oregon. He was 23 1/2 years old; single and of excellent character. He had blue eyes, brown hair, medium complexion and stood 6 feet 1 1/2 inches tall. His occupation at the time was Block Signalman. The source for this information was from the Honorable Discharge from US Army, signed by H. G. Upton, Major Infantry, Commanding.

Monte's Army Serial Number was 3133981. He was appointed Sergeant of Company, 70th Engineers of the Army as of November 1, 1918 - Fort Douglas, Utah. Source: Form # 152 - A.G.O. signed by Jas. O. Hunt, Captain Engineer USA, Commanding 70th Engineers.

On February 3, 1919, Monte was honorably discharged by reason of Muster Out telegram AGO dated November 16, 1918. Certification stamped on Discharge paper "This instrument was filed February 24, 1945 and recorded in Vol. 1 @ page 70. Record of Military Discharge of Douglas Co., OR - County Clerk: Roy Ages by Flossie S. Virden, Deputy. Source: Discharge papers.

Monte worked for many years as a signalman on the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Monte, Sr., bought a grocery store in 1948 from Ira C. Lewis in Glendale (source: Newspaper clipping on death of Ira C. Lewis, dated June 1963).

Due to his health problem (enlarged heart - possibly born with it), they moved to Portland, Oregon where he could see specialists in this field. Later, they returned to Glendale and Monte continued to work on the railroad while his wife, Bess, and oldest son, Monte, Jr., were working partners in the day-to-day operation of the grocery store in Glendale, Oregon.

Helen reported the following: "When we moved to Portland, it was because of dad's health, but the signal maintaining job in Oswego allowed him to use an automobile, rather than the motor car, which made it much easier not lifting the old motor car on and off the track. I don't remember his going to doctors in Portland, however, his condition continued to deteriorate, and he bid on a job on the signal gang around Glendale. It was around this time that we bought the grocery store, (1949) as his condition continued to worsen. I did not know all this until after his death, he and mother sheltered me from a lot of things I should have known. When his condition got so bad he just couldn't do anything, he went to the S.P. hospital in San Francisco, by that time the EKG was being used for diagnosis. This was when the enlarged heart was discovered. He had been treated for everything else, but the heart, because they didn't know what his real problem was. The S.P. retired him before he even got back to Glendale."

Monte retired from the railroad and continued living in Glendale, OR the rest of his remaining years with his wife, Bess. He had been a resident of Glendale, Oregon for 41 years. He was a 40 year member of the Glendale Odd Fellows Lodge 172.

Monte's funeral services were held Wednesday, March 25, 1964 in the Presbyterian Church with Rev. Norman Naugler officiating and burial was under the direction of the Hull and Hull Funeral Home. Pall Bearers were Ben Whaley, Piney Winkelman, Bernie Halverson, Ardle McDiarmid, William Grahame and Life Edson.

Source: Funeral program saved by his niece, Ethel Mae Bates KinKade.

Thomas Jefferson Bates and Flora Snow

After Susan passed away, Thomas was married to Flora Snow. They were married on 12 Oct 1893 in Witcherville, Sebastian County, Arkansas. The couple remained in Arkansas for over 10 years near his brother Robert, even though Thomas' son James had moved on to Oregon. While in Arkansas, they had 4 boys: Monte, born in 1895; Todey, born in 1897; Oady, born in 1901; and Bonny, who was born in 1902. Meanwhile, Robert passed away in 1898 and his older brother John C., died in 1899.

Family folklore suggests that the family moved from Arkansas to Oregon in 1904, traveling by train. They were on the 1900 census in Arkansas, but we know that Bon was born in 1902 in Arkansas, and Emery in 1907 in Oregon. Before the family moved to Oregon, one of the houses where they lived caught on fire and burned. Monte remembered that as he was upstairs he had to jump out the second story window to safety. Helen said that her father was very afraid all through his life when he smelled smoke. Thomas, Flora, and the boys moved to Douglas County, Oregon to be near James and his family. Thomas purchased 70 acres near Riddle. There was a big hill on the property, covered in rosewood. Later, the hill was called 'Bates Hill'.

While living in Oregon, Thomas and Flora had 4 more children, all boys. Theador was born in 1905, Emery in 1907, and the twins, Byron and Ralph, were born in 1909. Obviously, with 8 boys, life was very busy for Thomas and Flora. Unfortunately, for Thomas and his young family, things took a turn for the worse in 1910. In January, Thomas was cutting down a tree near the farmhouse. The tree fell on top of Thomas. He suffered serious injuries, causing his death on the 12th of January, 1910.

Ethel Mae provided the following about the hardships that Flora faced after Thomas passed away. Flora was a very young bride to an older man in October of 1893. She worked hard trying to raise her family and when her husband, Thomas, died in 1910 - it was quite a struggle for Flora to provide for her family of six boys. Flora moved her family down off Bates Hill into town & rented a house, according to son, Bon. Bon thought he was about 10 or 12 at that time and in the 6th grade. Flora was employed as a waitress in a downtown restaurant and also cleaned homes for some residents of Riddle.

Flora is said to have had a broken heart due to her three youngest sons (Emery and the twins, Ralph & Byron) being taken from her & placed at the Boy's & Girl's Aid Society in Portland, OR in 1917. They would not let her communicate with the boys and would not tell her where they were placed with other families. She wrote, sent a picture of herself with the boy's dog, Ring, and a picture of Mont in uniform plus sent a dime for each son when she could afford to but these were not shared with the boys. Being broken hearted over the loss of the three younger boys (1917), the death of Oady in a knife fight (1920) and Mont being away in the service probably caused her chronic health problems to deteriorate which led to her death in 1922.

Cause of death:
Primary - Bronchio-pneumonia.

Secondary cause:
Chronic myocarditis and Dementia praecox.

Thomas Jefferson Bates and Susan Eleanor Pearson

Thomas Jefferson Bates was born 18 Mar 1836, the seventh child, and fifth son, of Zachariah and Lavina Bates. According to his Civil War Muster Card into the Union Army, Thomas was born in Carrell Co., Tennessee. This was misinterpreted by his descendants for years, who assumed that he was born in Carroll County. What we have found since, is that he was more likely born in Carroll, Madison County, Tennessee.

What we know about TJ's early life comes from discussions that my father, Jim Bates, had with Uncle Bon and Uncle Monte, sons of Thomas and Flora. Bon also sent a letter in 1971, which kind of got this whole family history search for our ancestors started.



Zachariah moved his family from York County, South Carolina, to Madison County, Tennessee, about 1830. He is the only member of John's family to go north. The rest went to Georgia or stayed near the homestead on Fishing River. From land records in Madison County, we find that John Bates bought some land in the 1820's. Could that be the reason that Zachariah went north? Anyway, they bought land near the Chickasaw Nation along the Big Hatchie River. They 'had about ever thing on it' according to Bon. They tried to raise tobacco and sell timber. The tobacco crop evidently did not work, as the ground was not well suited to it and eventually lost the farm.

In 1838, Zachariah had 3 children registered in Madison Co. schools. The 1840 census shows the following in their household: 1840 Madison Co., TN
Males Females
2<5, 2<10, 1<15, 1<20, 1<60; 1<10, 1<20, 1<40

It appears that in 1849 they were on the move. TJ's brother, John C., married Cecelia Chaplin in 1849 in Obion Co., TN. Obion County is located in the northwest portion of the state. Next they show up further west on the same trail, when Thomas Jefferson Bates married Susan Eleanor Pearson in 1855 in Johnson County, Arkansas. Others of the family show up in Johnson County as well. Zachariah M., John C., and Robert all bought land at the Clarksville land office in 1859. The lands they purchased were in Sebastian County, to the west.

However, Thomas and Susan moved north and west to Washington County. They purchased a farm near Prairie Grove. They appear on the 1860 census in Washington County with two sons and a daughter, Mary Melvina, David Henry, and John Calvin.

The next known event in their lives was the Civil War. Thomas joined his brothers, John, Robert and William, and enlisted in the Confederate Army. Thomas J. was mustered in Fayetteville into Company G of the 16th Arkansas Infantry on 5 Nov 1861. He enlisted as a private and made corporal in 1862. He was present on 31 Aug 1862. (BATES, THOMAS Pvt - Enl 5Nov1861 at Fayetteville, AR. Age 23. Appointed 4th cpl 28Jun1862. Present 31Aug1862).

While Thomas was off fighting to the east, his family was not left untouched by the ravages of war. My great grandfather, James Ragen Bates, was born in Prairie Grove on the second of November, 1862. Five weeks later, the Battle of Prairie Grove broke out. Our relatives in Arkansas told my father that Susan took her little family into the cellar and hid, while they could hear the cannons bellowing in the distance. Occasionally, dirt would fall from the roof and cover them.

A description of the battle can be found at: www.exploresouthernhistory.com/arkansaspg2.html. In short, it was one of the bloodiest battles fought west of the Mississippi. Here is an excerpt of what happened: "The two determined armies now faced each other along lines that stretched for miles along the curving ridge. The Confederates maintained their position at the top, while the Federals lined up at the bottom. As Hindman noted, the Battle of Prairie Grove evolved into a fierce stand-up fight:

...There was no place of shelter upon any portion of the field. Wounds were given and deaths inflicted by the enemy's artillery in the ranks of the reserves as well as in the front rank. During five hours, shell, solid shot, grape and canister,
and storms of bullets swept the entire ground. Many gallant officers, and many soldiers equally brave fell dead or wounded, but their comrades stood as firm as iron. Volunteers maintained their reputation. Conscripts rose at once to the same standard, and splendidly refuted the slanders put upon them by the class of exempts.

The battle raged back and forth until sunset. Federal troops would attack and be driven back. Confederates would then counterattack and, in turn, be driven back themselves. General Blunt, of the Union army, described the situation poignantly:

...The rattling of the musketry, uninterrupted for fully three hours, was terrific. The contending armies swayed to and fro, each alternately advancing and retiring. Some rebel sharpshooters, firing from the windows of a house situated in the edge of the wood and a little to my left, were evidently directing their compliments pecially to myself and staff. I directed Captain Rabb to open upon it with shell, and in a few moments the house was in flames.

The final action of the day came on the western end of the field, when Confederates swept across open ground in a final effort to shatter the Union lines. Driven back by a storm of shot and shell, they resumed their positions on the ridge and darkness mercifully brought the battle to a close."

Although the battle ended in a draw, it helped decide the fate of the war in northwestern Arkansas. As to whether or not the Battle of Prairie Grove had any impact on Thomas or his brothers is not known. However, it was not long afterward that all 4 deserted the Confederate cause. Thomas and Robert enlisted with the Union Army in early 1863. John and William were both injured and were no longer involved. In a later deposition, John C. told army investigators that he was always a union sympathizer, only joining the Confederate army because he was conscripted.

Here is the information from his enlistment card:

B 1 Ark

Thomas J. Bates
Co. A, 1 Reg't Arkansas Inf.
Appears on
Compay Descriptive Book
of the organization named above
Description
Age 25 years; height 5 feet 8 inches.
Complexion fair
Eyes Blue ; hair dark
Where born Carell Co. Tenn.
Occupation Farm
ENLISTMENT.
When Feb 14 , 1863
Where Fayetteville
By whom Capt. R Smith ; term 3 yrs.
Remarks: Was in the Battle of Fayetteville on
the 18th of April 1863. Was in Campaign through
the Nations to Fort Smith. Was in the Compaign
from Fort Smith to Camden and back to Fort Smith
and done his duth throughout as a principal
musician. (detailed as (over)

According to the rest of the record, he was promoted to principal musician on 1 Nov 1863.

Life in the Union Army must not have all been peaches and cream, however. Thomas was promoted to sergeant and then demoted back to a private.

After the war, Thomas and Susan remained in Prairie Grove for a few years. In 1868, they sold their land to Richard Venable and bought land next to his brother Robert in southern Sebastian County. Their life after the war was filled with turmoil. Apparently, there was hard feelings against the family for switching sides during the war. Thomas and his family had to flee occasionally for safety. The birthplaces of their remaining children reflect that. Alexander Clayton was born in 1868 in Arkansas; Martha Marena was born in Texas in 1870; and finally, Robert Hansferd was born in 1873 in the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma. Things must have settled down a bit later, as the family shows up in the 1890 census in Sebastian County. They lived near 4 Miners Wash, Huntington, Sebastian County. They appear to have been members of the Valley View Church of Christ. Robert donated the land for the church.

Susan's and Thomas' lives were filled with heartbreak. Together, they had eight children. Sadly, Susan, who died at the age of 58, outlived all but two. Mary Melvina married Andrew Bullard and moved to Illinois. David died in 1869 at the age of 12. John died in 1872. He was also 12. William Thomas only lived a year, passing away in 1862. Alexender Clayton died in 1886. He was 18. Marena married George Givens in 1890 and moved to Oklahoma. She died a year later at the age of 21. Robert Hansferd was thrown off a horse in 1882 and died. He was only 9.

Since Melvina had moved to Illinois, that left only James as their only child living nearby. One can only imagine the heartbreak they felt from losing their children. Susan lived only a couple of years after Marena died, passing away in 1893 at the age of 58. A year later, James moved his family west to Oregon. They said it was to get away from the 'fever'. Thomas stayed for a few years and remarried soon afterward to Flora Snow.

Clarificaton

I think it is important to remind everyone, that right now, at least I do not know for sure which John Bates that immigrated from England is our John. We have several possibilities that I have found:

- John Bates who came to Maryland as an indentured servant in 1771, aged 27 years. He ran away and did not finish his servitude.

- John Bates' who came to Maryland/Virgina as indentured servants in 1764, 67, 70, and 75.

This is the place where I am stuck right now. From later census records we know that John was born between 1740 and 1749 in England, and married Rebekah Beal in Maryland about 1777.

Pioneer Hero, James William Bates

Tomorrow in Utah we celebrate 'Pioneer Day'. July 24, 1847 is the day the pioneers reached the Salt Lake Valley, seeking refuge from religious persecution. Of course, no one in our Bates line came across the plains with the Mormons, but my father was born on July 24. That's close enough. Besides, one year he was recognized at the Days of '47 parade in Salt Lake City. They called him a pioneer. If they called him one, that's good enough for me.

I guess the word that stands out about 'Jim', as everyone called him, is self-made man. He never hesitated to speak his mind and he stood for what he believed. More about that later. Jim grew up in Carbon County, Utah, with his father, William McKinley Bates, mother, Ida Richardson Bates, and brother Jack and sister Alma Rae. Grandpa Bill, as I called him, and his family lived in the coal camps in Spring Canyon and Latuda, and later in Spring Glen. For a few years, they migrated north to Provo, but returned when work became available.

Now, here is where details get sketchy. Dad told me that he and Uncle Jack were sent to live with Grandpa and Grandma Richardson when he was 12 and Jack 11. They had to walk the tracks to pick up loose coal to make a living. Many years later I was telling Grandma Bates about this part of his life, and she said he made it up! I suppose he did spend some time picking up coal off of the tracks, but I'm not sure that is what he did every day. He did tell me about good times he and Jack had off fishing in Beaver Creek. They would leave for weeks. Dad became a very successful trapper, mostly catching beaver and muskrats. He also trapped bobcats. Later he got some hounds and would chase bobcats and mountain lions. One day he wanted a picture of his dogs chasing a bobcat, so he caught one alive and put it in a wooden box. Next, he took Mom and the bobcat and dogs out into the desert. He stood about 25 yards out in front of the box in perfect position to get the picture. Mom released the cat. The dogs quickly jumped to the chase. Unfortunately, the only 'tree' in sight was Dad. Before he could snap the picture, the bobcat was on top of his head!

His love of nature is what led him later to his profession in life, working for the Utah State Fish and Game Department. Before that, however, he dropped out of high school after his junior year to work in the coal mine. About a year later, he enlisted in the Army and was off to basic training at Fort Ord. It was during his time in the service that he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He told me there was nothing particularly spectacular or faith promoting about his baptism, although there certainly was with his conversion later in life. He just had a couple of Mormon friends. They were serving at Fort Sam Houston in Texas and they told him he should get baptized before he shipped overseas. This was during the Korean War.

While in Korea he served in a MASH supply unit. He had a couple of close calls. One morning he awoke in his mummy bag to see a North Korean standing there with a rifle pointing at him. He struggled to reach for his rifle, next to him on the ground. He could not get to it as the bag was zipped shut. He heard a shot. It was from his lieutenant's rifle and the enemy soldier fell to the ground. One day, as the troops pulled out of Pyongyang Jon, chaos was everywhere. The only way out he could find was to jump on the outside of one of the big troop carriers and stand on the bed and lock his elbow around one of the ribs that supported the canvas top. This was during the winter. He rode that way for 14 hours.

It’s a good thing he had a sense of humor. Here is an excerpt from his history about the ship voyage to Japan. "The trip to this point was pure joy. I don't believe a soul got sick or even got nauseated. I was billeted in the hold, somewhere near the bow of the ship. I drew the seventh hammock up from the floor. Looked like a long ways down to me ... About halfway to Japan we had an alert ... When the alarm went off, I was lying in my bunk, dead to the world. The alarm sent a chill down my back bone. What if we were on the verge of being torpedoed by an enemy ship or submarine? I literally flew out of my hammock and jammed my foot (clad by a GI boot) into a metal mop bucket. Why did that lousy bucket have to be sitting right where my foot came down? It stuck and I couldn't get it off. I clanged my way up the stairways and thought the halls along with the hundreds of other GI's ... That bucket didn't bother or slow me down a whit. Often wondered what all those other GI's thought about the nut charging up the stairs, through the alleys and down the deck with a bucket on my foot."

Although he saw lots of death, and had several near brushes himself, Dad told me he was blessed and never had to shoot another man. After the war he returned home and began to work on the railroad. That was when he met Mom. He threw her into the back of his truck and told her he was going to marry her. Which he did, one month later. It was not long until the woods beckoned to him once more, and soon he was employed as a beaver trapper with the Fish and Game.

The first summer he was sent to the Uintah Mountains to trap beaver. He worked with a guy named Fish Harris. He and Dad did not get along. Although Dad was taller than him, Fish was stocky and thought he was a tough guy. He would pester Dad, but, being the rookie, was reluctant to make waves. One night, Dad and Mom were having dinner with the director, Harold Crane, Harold really liked Dad. The director told Dad he had heard about his problems with Fish Harris, and he said that if it were him, he would clean Harris' clock. That took care of that. One night in a bunk house Fish met his match!

The mail was really slow coming to the Uintahs. In fact, it did not come. Mom and Dad ran out of food. At one point we were forced to survive on the remnants of a jack rabbit Dad had shot with a 30-06. Mom said the stew was a little watery.

One thing about Jim, he was always a very hard worker and had a drive to succeed. He had not worked long for the Department when he approached Harold Crane, and asked if he could go to college and get his degree. Harold agreed. Jim was able to continue to work as a beaver trapper while he attended school. Five years later he was one of the first employees of the Department of Fish and Game to have a master’s degree in wildlife science.

We moved to Parowan, where he was employed as a Conservation Officer, or game warden. It was not long until he made waves. Dad was never one to shy from doing his job. The first winter there, keep in mind that poaching was prevalent at the time, he made over 300 arrests, including the mayor and most of the city council! Well, they wanted to run him out on a rail, and soon contacted their state senator. The senator convened an inquest. There was a big write up about it in the Salt Lake newspaper. Well, the senate determined that he was just doing his job, so that ended well. Trouble did not evade him, however, as he was cursed by a Navajo squaw in Escalante. The next year he was promoted to a biologist position. If that was the result of the curse, he can be thankful of that!

I was very lucky. Dad always took me to work with him. I have many, many fond memories of riding around the hills in his green game warden trucks. It was while we lived in Parowan that Dad truly became converted to the gospel. It took a couple of harrowing experiences out in the desert, but finally, he was convinced and he took my mother and us to the temple to be sealed together for time and all eternity. Two years later, he was transferred to Price as the regional game manager.

Dad was a very good wildlife manager. Through his efforts, desert bighorn sheep, bison and elk were restored throughout southeastern Utah. He spent many hours in a helicopter catching and moving animals. He had a particular love for the Henry Mountains and the bison there. His life of danger was not over yet. Gar Workman, my major professor, told me about a meeting that Dad had with the Wayne County cowboys about bison on the Henry's. Seems when they left there were guns drawn. Sounds like a few meetings I've had. Well, not quite.

I don't know how it happened, but Dad had a deep love for his family and genealogy. He spent countless hours searching out his roots. He and Mom would travel the country, spending time in courthouses and libraries, trying to unravel his family history. He was stuck on Thomas Jefferson Bates. He spent 40 years trying to find Thomas' father. While doing so, he accumulated a database of over 60,000 names of Bates’, Pearson’s, Parrish’s, Chenoweth’s, and Richardson’s. His efforts were truly remarkable.

Jim was very dedicated to his church and Savior. He was faithful in every calling he had. He served as a stake missionary for 5 years. He and Mom had over 50 baptisms. That is truly remarkable. One of the person's he taught was Bishop Rulon White in Wellington. After retiring, Dad and Mom served a mission in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They were asked to help relations between the white and black members in the wards. This they were able to do. Dad was fearless in his efforts. On one occasion, he taught 34 Baptist ministers. Later, one of them told them he would be baptized, except he would lose his profession. He and Dad remained friends until Dad passed away.

Always mindful of his grandchildren, Dad did his best to teach my kids how to work. When they were 12 and 10, respectively, Dad hired Josh and Jeff to help build his house for $1 per hour. Josh still remembers it as 'slave labor', but is grateful for it. As mild mannered as she is, though, one day Alisa came unglued. She came to pick up the boys after work and found them hanging over the edge of the rafters working on the roof. Boy, did she give Dad a piece of her mind! I am sure he laughed about it later. He wanted to include Natalie in the action, so he told her he would pay her ten cents for each brick she cleaned. He had a pile of used bricks which needed to have the mortar pounded off. Well, Nat thought that was an easy task, so she quickly marched outside, turned on the hose, and squirted off the bricks. Guess he was not too specific on his instructions!

Well, this is a long post, but you should know that Dad was a great ‘pot-licker’. He was my friend. He always wanted me along and taught me how to work. But, I think the best thing he did for all of us was to break the chain and set an example of how to be successful. Later I will make a post about my grandfather and the struggles he faced in life with polio and alcoholism. Jim was able to break the cycle and bettered himself by getting an education. As a result, most of his grandchildren have followed and have gone on to college and have successful lives. His love of the gospel and his family has inspired us. This is a legacy that will persist forever.

The Revolutionary War and Independence

From the book "The King's Passengers to Maryland and Virginia," by Peter Coldham, it appears that our grandfather, John Bates, may have been an indentured servant that immigrated from England in 1771 and he was born in 1744.

On page 267, we find the following:

Runaway Felons:

Bates, John, English, age 27. From Benjamin Howard, Anne Arundel Co MD (MG 8 June - 13 July 1771)
Bates, Rowland, age 23. From Caleb Dorsey, Anne Arundel Co. Md (MG 10 Jun 1772)

I have no verification that this is our grandfather, but the time frames and locations are right. This is what I believed happened. I would appreciate it if anyone has any information to the contrary, to please let me know.

Between 8 June and 13 July, 1771, when he was 27, John Bates came to America, coming to port near present day Annapolis, Maryland, on the Chesapeake Bay. He was an indentured servant of Benjamin Howard. Mr. Howard was a prominent landowner in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland, and the son of Phillip Howard. However, before John's seven-year servitude was completed, he ran away. Indications are that he ran away in the sixth year of his servitude, just as the Revolutionary War broke out. There does not seem to have been much of an effort to find him, because after he left, he got married and joined the Continental Army. Anne Arundel County is about 20 miles from Prince George's County, where I believe he met and married Rebekah Beall (b. 1762), daughter of James and Elizabeth Beall. They were probably married around 1777. John C,. Mary and Zachariah were born abt. 1777, 1780, and 1781 in Maryland or Virginia.

In Dec. 1777, John Bates enlisted in the Fourth Maryland Regiment, which was assigned to the Main Continental Army. Military records show that he was discharged on 1 Nov 1780. On 24 Feb 1779, John was paid $100 when he re-enlisted. The 4th Regiment was reassigned to the Maryland 2nd Regiment, under Col. Otto Williams.

The Fourth Maryland Regiment enlistees came from Baltimore, Anne Arundel, and Somerset counties. It originally had 782 troops, but was reorganized with 661 men in 1779. They saw action during the battle of Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Camden, the Guliford Courthouse, and finally at the Battle of Yorktown where Cornwallis surrendered. They were in the thick of the action. Wikipedia mentions that the 2nd was in the encampment at Valley Forge, but I do not know if the 4th was still part of the 2nd at that time. The regiment was disbanded on 1 Jan 1783 at Charleston, South Carolina.

During his military action, John was in South Carolina twice, at the battle of Camden and in Charleston. This may have given him the idea to move to the York, South Carolina area. The battle of Kings Mountain was fought in York County, not long after the battle of Camden. The Maryland 2nd Regiment was assigned to the defense of the Carolinas during the period between Guliford's courthouse and Yorktown. John purchased 300 acres on the main fork (now called Stoney Fork) of Fishing Creek in New Acquisition (now called York County) on 17 Nov 1783. New Acquisition was ceded back to South Carolina in 1781 when the state line survey was formally completed that called into question an earlier survey where the surveyor followed the Broad River north instead of the Catawba River as indicated in the agreement documents.

Rowland enlisted in the Maryland 4th Regiment. Whether or not they were relatives or just acquaintances is not known. A Phillip Bates also joined the 4th Regiment. He was discharged 22 Mar 1779.

The following is a description of the battles the Maryland 4th Regiment was involved in:

BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE, DEL.
September 11, 1777
Right flank commanded by General Sullivan with six brigades, consisting of divisions of Lord Stirling, of General Stephen, and his own. Left wing under the command of General Wayne. Regiments of Colonels Hazen, Dayton and Ogden on the right. Pennsylvania militia, under General Armstrong, on extreme left, but not called into action. Advance columns under General Greene; brigades of Muldenburg and Weedon. General Conway's brigade, the Third Virginia regiment under Colonel Marshall, regiment of Virginians under Colonel Stevens and one of Pennsylvanians under Colonel Stewart, distinguished themselves, as did Lafayette who was present as a volunteer, and the French officers, Maudit Duplessis, Louis de Fleury, and the Polish officer, Pulaski. Total force, including militia, about 15,000 men.

BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN.
October 7, 1777.
Left wing, under General Greene, composed of divisions of Greene and of Stephen, flanked by McDougall's brigade. Right wing composed of divisions of Sullivan and Wayne, flanked by Conway's brigade. Lord Stirling, with brigades of Nash and Maxwell in reserve. Maryland and New Jersey militia on extreme left; General Armstrong with about too° Pennsylvania militia on the extreme right. Brigades of Scott and Mulhlenberg took part in the attack under General Greene. Brigades of Forman, Smallwood, and artillery under General Knox.

BATTLE OF MONMOUTH, N. J.
June 28, 1778.
First skirmish by reconnoitering party, New Jersey militia, under General Dickinson, select detachment advanced under Colonel Grayson; regiments of Colonels Butler and Jackson. Second Skirmish, under Colonel Butler, then in advance. General Lafayette, with light horse from Maxwell's brigade, reconnoitered. General Wayne on the left. Third skirmish: Charge repulsed by Colonel Butler, Colonels Jackson and Grayson in advance, flanked by Generals Maxwell and Scott. Oswald's artillery with guns from Varnum's brigade. Retreat by General Lee. The battle: Rallied by Washington. Greene on the right, Stirling on the left; Lafayette in command of the second line. Advance of enemy met by Wayne's line. Later, General Woodford's brigade advanced on the right, General Poor's on the left. Generals Muhlenberg and de Steuben marched with reinforcements. Among other regiments engaged were those of Colonels Ramsay, Stewart and Wesson. Livingston's New Yorkers, Cadwallader's Pennsylvania volunteers and General Woodford's Virginia brigade.

BATTLE OF CAMDEN, NEAR SANDER'S CREEK, S. C.
August 16, 1780.
HORATIO GATES, General in command.
Right wing, under Baron de Kalb, charged with line of battle ; Brigadier-General Gist with Second Maryland brigade; Delaware militia. Centre : General Caswell with North Carolina division, including General Gregory's brigade. Left wing: General Stevens with Virginia brigade, 700 strong. Smallwood's First Maryland brigade, with Captain Singleton's artillery in reserve. Advance guard: Colonel Armand's legion, cavalry. Colonel Porterfield with light infantry on right and Major Armstrong on the left. Colonel Dixon's regiment. In all about 3052 rank and file. Attack led by Colonel Williams' volunteers, under Lieutenant-Colonel Howard, followed by regiments of Stevens and Dixon.

BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN, N. C. (The 4th was not involved in this battle).
October 8, 1780.
Colonel Isaac Selby with a force from Sullivan county ; Colonel William Campbell with men from Washington county, Va., Colonel Benjamin Cleveland with men from Wilkes and Surrey counties; Colonel Charles McDowell from Wilkes and Rutherford counties, N. C.; Colonel John Seirer with men from Sullivan, and Colonel James Williams, of South Carolina. Total command, 1600 picked men.

BATTLE OF GUILFORD COURT HOUSE, N. C.
March 15, 1781.
NATHANAEL GREENE, General in command.
First line formed by two brigades of North Carolina militia under Colonels Butler and Eaton, about 1100 men, with Lieutenant-Colonel William Washington's corps and two six-pounders on their right, and on the left Major Harry Lee's corps and riflemen. Second line formed by Virginia militia, a brigade from the southwestern part of the State under Colonel William Campbell and another under General Lawson. Third line commanded by Greene in person, First Maryland regiment, Colonel Gunby, and Continentals. Reserve, two Virginia regiments of Continentals. Total, 1651 regular troops, and more than 2000 militia.

YORKTOWN, VA.
(Surrender of Cornwallis).
October 19, 1781.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, Commander-in-Chief.
Muhlenburg and Hazen's brigades and the French forces commanded by Lafayette. Wayne's and the Maryland brigades, division of the centre, commanded by Baron de Steuben. Dayton's and Clinton's brigades on the left; the senior Continental officer to command the right wing and Count Rochambeau, the left. Stevens' and Lawson's brigades of militia to form the second line; the park of artillery, the corps of sappers and miners, and the Virginia State regiments posted between the two lines. General Knox in command of the artillery. General Lincoln, division commander.

I am grateful for the service my grandfather gave in our battle for independence. Whether his actions were great or small, we do not know. However, I believe it took great courage for him to be there for the entire war. During the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, the 2nd was positioned on the outer flanks and had to hold their position while the British shot at them for 6 hours. Men were falling on each side. They had to march past the wounded and dying while their new, young officers failed to give the orders to return fire. The 2nd eventually broke the line and fled, but still, it took great courage to hold the line for 6 hours under those conditions.

Personally, I have not been required to pay that type of debt for all of the things I enjoy. I appreciate the peace that my family has lived in, and all the comforts this country has given me. I sincerely appreciate the efforts of my ancestors, John in the Revolutionary War, Zachariah in the War of 1812, Thomas in the Civil War, and my father, James Bates in the Korean War, and my son-in-law, Derek, who currently serves in the Air Force. I pray that God will reward them for their efforts.

May God Bless America, and may we forever be beholden to Him.

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.

Stoney Fork, Fishing Creek, York, South Carolina

Here are a few photos of Stoney Fork. The main fork of Fishing Creek was later renamed Stoney Creek. This is a few miles from where John and his family lived.