John Coalter Bates (August 26, 1842 – February 4, 1919) was Chief of Staff of the United States Army from January to April 1906. Along with Arthur MacArthur, Jr., Bates was one of the last American Civil War veterans still on active duty in the United States military at the time of his retirement. General Bates died in San Diego, California on 4 February 1919.