{⋆★⋆} BG Gatlin, Richard C.

Richard Caswell Gatlin​

Born: January 18, 1809

Birthplace: Kinston, North Carolina

Father: John S. Gatlin

Mother: Susannah Caswell

1st​ Wife: Scioto Sandford 1827 – 1852

(Buried: Fort Smith National Cemetery, Fort Smith, Arkansas)​

2nd​ Wife: Mary Ann Gibson 1836 – 1916

(Buried: Fort Smith National Cemetery, Fort Smith, Arkansas)​

Children:

​

Alfred Sanford Gatlin 1851 – 1852​

(Buried: Fort Smith National Cemetery, Fort Smith, Arkansas)​

​

Mary Gatlin Cobb 1875 – 1973​

(Buried: Old Chapel Hill Cemetery, Chapel Hill, North Carolina)​

Education:

1824 – 1825: Attended University of North Carolina​

​

1832: Graduated from West Point Military Academy (35th​ in class)​

Occupation before War:

1832 – 1861: Served in the United States Army rising to rank of Major​

​

1839 – 1842: Served in the Seminole Wars​

​

1842 – 1845: Stationed in Louisiana​

​

1846 – 1847: Served in the Mexican War rising to Colonel​

​

1849 – 1850: Took part in the Seminole Wars​

​

Participated in the Utah War​

​

1861: Captured by Arkansas State Militia at Fort Smith, Arkansas​

​

1861: Resigned his commission in United States Army​

Civil War Career:

1861: Adjutant General & Major General North Carolina State Militia​

​

1861: Colonel in the Confederate States Regular Army​

​

1861 – 1862: Brigadier General of Confederate Army Infantry​

​

Commander of Coastal District in North Carolina​

​

1862: Relieved from Duty on March 19, 1862​

​

1862: Resigned from Army in September​

​

1862 – 1865: Adjutant & Inspector General of North Carolina​

Occupation after War:

1865 – 1881: Farmer in Sebastian County, Arkansas​

​

1881 – 1896: Farmer in Fort Smith, Arkansas​

Died: September 8, 1896

Place of Death: Mount Nebo, Arkansas

Age at time of Death: 87 years old

Burial Place: Fort Smith National Cemetery, Fort Smith, Arkansas

 

[Pollaco]

The official explanation for his removal over the loss of New Bern is listed as "ill health". I must admit I had my Gatlings mixed up at the beginning of this bio. I thought this was the inventor of the Gatling Gun. It wasn't until I read about his being a Confederate Colonel that I realized I had the wrong Gatlin. Gatlin and Gatling.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General Richard C. Gatlin! Salutes remembering General Gatlin on his birthday.

 

[Pollaco]

His reason for resignation is given as "ill health".

 

[danny]

3/15/62 NC Gov Clark to Sec Benjamin-
...
I hear much complaint & criticism among the people of the absence of Gen Gatlin from the field of battle & his entire neglect & inattention to the coast defenses of his command for the last five months, & they judge of this neglect & inattention from the alleged fact that he has not during that period visited & examined the fortifications & inspected the troops more than once, if at all, during his command of six months, notwithstanding his Hqs are in easy RR communication of both Gen'ls Anderson's & Branch's commands.
I am only stating what I hear constantly around me. Perhaps his Hqs is the proper place for him, but the people so deeply interested in their own homes & interests expected the benefit of his military knowledge & experience, & [are] greatly distressed that they have not had it, & regard with much anxiety his want of attention to their safety & interest & what they believe was his special business.

3/19/62 Goldsboro, Gatlin to Richmond stating he has turned over command to Anderson; asks for an investigation.

 

[Pollaco]

His reason for resignation is given as "ill health".

There were a number of setbacks in his defense of North Carolina during Burnside's expedition. Gatlin was the man responsible for Noryh Carolina's defense. He was relieved by Gen. J.B. Anderson the day after Union forces captured New Bern.It sounds like he was being made the scapegoat for New Bern's defeat and being ill was a way out.

 

[USS ALASKA]

Nice article on the gent...

Gatlin, Richard Caswell
by Paul Branch, 1986
18 Jan. 1809–8 Sept. 1896

Richard Caswell Gatlin, soldier, Confederate officer, and farmer, was born at Kinston, Lenoir County. His father was John S. Gatlin, the son of John Gatlin who was one of the early settlers of Kinston; his mother was Susannah Caswell, the youngest child of Governor Richard Caswell. Gatlin's brother, John Slade Gatlin, became an assistant surgeon in the U.S. Army and was killed by the Seminole Indians in the Dade's Defeat massacre in Florida in December 1835. Young Gatlin attended The University of North Carolina in 1824–25 before his appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on 1 July 1832; he was graduated on 31 May 1834 with the rank of second lieutenant in the Seventh United States Infantry. He was assigned to frontier duty in the Indian Territory and on 31 Aug. 1836 was commissioned first lieutenant.

Please use link for full article - https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/gatlin-richard-caswell

Cheers,
USS ALASKA