Contributed by: Diane Siniard Name: Richard Caswell Gatlin State Served: North Carolina Highest Rank: Brig-Gen Birth Date: 1809 Death Date: 1896 Birth Place: Lenoir County, North Carolina Army: Confederacy Promotions: Promoted to Full Colonel Promoted to Full Brig-Gen Biography: Brigadier-General Richard C. Gatlin was a native of North Carolina, and was appointed from that State to the United States military academy, where he was graduated in 1832, in the same class with Generals Ewell, Archer and Humphrey Marshall. He received a lieutenancy in the Seventh infantry, and served on frontier duty in Indian Territory, in the Florida war, 1839-42, and was subsequently stationed in Louisiana until 1845, when he joined the army of occupation in Texas, and was promoted to captain. He participated in the war with Mexico, being engaged in the defense of Fort Brown in May, 1846; was wounded in storming the enemy's works at Monterey, and received the brevet of major. In 1847 he was tendered the commission of colonel, First North Carolina volunteers, but declined it. Subsequently he served in Missouri and Louisiana, took part in the Seminole war of 1849-50, and was on frontier duty in Kansas, Indian Territory, Arkansas and Dakota until he marched with Johnston to Utah. In 1860 he shared the march to New Mexico; was stationed at Fort Craig, and was promoted major of Fifth infantry in February, 1861. While on a visit to Fort Smith, Ark., on April 23, 1861, he was captured by the forces of the State, and released on parole, after which he resigned his commission and tendered his services to his native State. He was appointed adjutant-general of the State, with the rank of major-general of militia, and received the commission of colonel of infantry, in the regular army of the Confederate States. Subsequently he was given command of the Southern department, coast defense, with headquarters at Wilmington, and being promoted brigadier-general in August, 1861, was assigned to command of the department of North Carolina and the coast defenses of the State. Very soon afterward Fort Hatteras was taken by the Federals, and he made energetic preparations for the defense of New Bern. He located his headquarters at Goldsboro in September, Gen. J. R. Anderson having charge under him of coast defenses, and organized troops and prepared for resisting invasion. Upon his suggestion an additional coast district was formed and Gen. D. H. Hill put in command. The exigencies of the service in other quarters prevented the sending of reinforcements, which he repeatedly called for, and in March, 1862, New Bern fell into the hands of the enemy. He was at this time suffering from a severe illness, and on this account, on March 19, 1862, was relieved from duty. In his final report he stated that "we failed to make timely efforts to maintain the ascendancy on Pamlico sound, and thus admitted Burnside's fleet without a contest; we failed to put a proper force on Roanoke island, and thus lost the key to our interior coast, and we failed to furnish General Branch with a reasonable force, and thus lost the important town of New Bern. What I claim is that these failures do not by right rest with me." Being advanced in years, he resigned in September, 1862, but subsequently served as adjutant and inspector-general of the State. After the close of hostilities he engaged in farming in Sebastian county, Ark., until 1881, and then made his residence at Fort Smith. He died at Mount Nebo, September 8, 1896, at the age of eighty-seven years and eight months. Source: Confederate Military History, vol. V, p. 308 |