He was born on 18 June 1843, to N Collin Coates and Elizabeth Stewart (12, 21). He was 18 years old when he was enlisted (9 [21, probably when he reenlisted], 17 [21 at death in 1864]). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (9, 17).
He was 5 feet 7-1/2 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair (9). He was "somewhat freckled" (9).
He was enlisted and mustered into service on 20 September 1861 (1, 9). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Smith (9). He served in company C (1).
On 19 March 1863, he returned to duty from Division Headquarters (5).
He was injured in the leg in May 1863 (14). On 7 May 1863, he was reported missing in action (6).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer (1).
On 1 March 1864, Colonel Gregory detached him to collect conscripts, at Philadelphia (2). He returned from detached service on 16 April 1864 (11).
On 18 June 1864, he rescued the body of William Miller, and brought it within the lines, while under enemy fire (4). For that "meritorious conduct" he was promoted to sergeant, on 28 June 1864, effective 18 June (4, 7).
He was wounded on 27 October 1864, at Hatcher's Run, Virginia (1). He died of those wounds or of pyaemia, on 27 November 1864, near Petersburg, Virginia (1, 7, 8, 12 [22 Nov], 13, 16 [22 Nov] 17 [22 Nov, no hint not in Philadelphia]). He was a sergeant when he died (1). His Philadelphia death record was signed by Dr P D Keyser--presumably the Peter D Keyser who had served in the 91st (17).
On 26 November 1864, he was buried, in Glenwood Cemetery (17). He was buried from (or died at) 2484 Master Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (17).
On 23 [or 28?] July 1891, his mother, Elizabeth Coats, successfully applied from Pennsylvania for a pension (15, 16)
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster)
2 letter, Sinex to Marvin, 7 March 1864
3 special order 13, HQ 91st PA, 1 March 1864
4 special order 54, HQ 91st PA, 28 June 1864
5 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 19 March 1863 (Pri Coats)
6 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 7 May 1863 (Pri Coats)
7 company C, List of non-commissioned officers, page 2, sergeants (Charles Coates)
8 company C, register of deaths (Charles Coates)
9 company C, descriptive roll, entry 23 (Charles Coats)
10 company C, untitled list, probably of status at muster out, entry 79 (Chas Coates)
11 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 16 April 1864 (Coates)
12 "Watkins-Jennings Family", a GEDCOM on Rootsweb.com WorldConnect, revised 10 October 2004 (viewed 9 January 2006) (Charles Coates)
13 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 28 December 1864 (Charles Coats)
14 'The Battles of Fredericksburg: further list of wounded', Philadelphia Inquirer 12 May 1863, page 4 (Charles Coates)
15 pension index, by name (Charles Coats)
16 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (Charles Coats)
17 death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 22 Nov 1864 (Charles Coats)
[I did not find an entry for him in the Ancestry index to the 1890 veteran's census (searched May 2007)]