Woodstock in Shenandoah County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

1LT Charles Bare Gatewood

6th U.S. Cavalry

First Lieutenant Charles Bare Gatewood Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 30, 2015

1. First Lieutenant Charles Bare Gatewood Marker

Inscription. Born on this site, April 6, 1853, the son of John Gatewood, Publisher of the Shenandoah Herald, Charles received his basic education in Woodstock and Harrisonburg, and was teaching school in Harrisonburg when he received his appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He graduated in the upper third of his class in 1877, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant and assigned to the Sixth U. S. Cavalry. He was posted at Fort Wingate, New Mexico, and at Forts Bowie and Apache in Arizona Territory.

He served under Generals Crook and Miles, as Aid-de-Camp and Chief of Apache Scouts. Lieutenant Gatewood was the key person in the arrangement of the final and total surrender of hostile Apaches, under the leadership of Naiche, son of Cochise and Geronimo, War Shaman of the Chiricahua who surrendered to General Miles at skeleton Canyon, Arizona Territory, September 4, 1886.

First Lieutenant Gatewood served at Fort McKinney, Wyoming, where on May 18, 1892, while on duty as Officer of The Day, he was severely injured by a premature dynamite explosion. He was later placed on administrative leave and transferred back east to Fortress Monroe, Virginia, where he succumbed sick to his injuries and ill-health, on May 20, 1896.

The Gatewood Homesite, although changed in outward

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appearances, still stands, being constructed of logs.

This marker is erected to honor the memory and service of ILT Charles Bare Gatewood, Sixth U. S. Cavalry, by those citizens and groups who know of his deeds and sacrifices.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.

Location. 38° 52.999′ N, 78° 30.246′ W. Marker is in Woodstock, Virginia, in Shenandoah County. Marker is at the intersection of North Main Street (U.S. 11) and Locust Street, on the left when traveling south on North Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Woodstock VA 22664, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mabel Lee Walton and Sigma Sigma Sigma (a few steps from this marker); The oldest business in Woodstock (within shouting distance of this marker); Fanny Stone (within shouting distance of this marker); Shenandoah County Courthouse (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Edinburg (about 500 feet away); Town of Strasburg (about 500 feet away); Shenandoah County Jail (about 500 feet away); New Market (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Woodstock.

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia entry for Charles B. Gatewood. “Agreeing to meet with General

Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 30, 2015

2. First Lieutenant Charles Bare Gatewood Marker

It is on the right. In the distance across the street is the Sigma Sigma Sigma marker.

Miles, Geronimo’s band rode [from Mexico] with Gatewood to Lawton's camp in Guadalupe Canyon, the entrance to the United States. Lawton received Geronimo and agreed to allow the Apaches to retain their weapons for defense against nearby Mexican troops. Lawton left for a heliograph station to send word to Miles, leaving Lieutenant Abiel Smith in command. Smith and Wood wanted to disarm the Apaches because they were prisoners-of-war. Smith told Gatewood that he wanted a meeting with Geronimo’s men, but Gatewood refused because he knew Smith wanted to murder Geronimo, rather than bring him to Miles.[15] Smith persisted and Gatewood threatened to ‘blow the head off the first soldier in line,’ who was Leonard Wood, Wood left to write a dispatch and Gatewood turned to the next man, Smith, who finally relented.” (Submitted on October 3, 2015.)

2. Lieutenant Charles B. Gatewood: Premier Cavalry Soldier of the American West. January 12, 2018, by Lieutenant Colonel Paul Fardink, USA-Ret. (Submitted on May 22, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)

The Gatewood Homesite with this Marker in Front image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 30, 2015

3. The Gatewood Homesite with this Marker in Front

Charles Bare Gatewood image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Wikipedia

4. Charles Bare Gatewood

Credits. This page was last revised on May 25, 2018. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,032 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 3, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4. submitted on May 22, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.