Erastus Newton Bates (February 29, 1828 – May 29, 1898) was an American politician and general from Massachusetts.

A graduate of Williams College, Bates was an early settler of Minnesota and participated in its first constitutional convention and state senate.

A longtime prisoner of war, Bates was commissioned a brevet brigadier general.

After his father died, Bates lived with an uncle, teaching and working to raise money for college.

[1] When he returned to Centralia, he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, serving one two-year term.