He later served as a Union general during the American Civil War, fighting primarily in the Western Theater.

His grandfather Nathan Veatch fought in the American Revolution at the Battle of King's Mountain as a lieutenant of Tennessee Volunteers.

[2] Veatch volunteered for service in the Union army and was appointed colonel of the 25th Regiment Indiana Infantry.

His division joined William T. Sherman's forces for the Atlanta Campaign and fought at the battles of Resaca, Dallas and Kennesaw Mountain.

When Veatch returned to active duty his former commander, Oliver O. Howard, instructed him to wait in Memphis for orders.

There he assumed command of the 1st Division in Gordon Granger's XIII Corps and participated in the Battle of Fort Blakeley.

Following is the report of the 1st Division's action during the Alabama Campaign and the Battle of Fort Blakeley as submitted by General Veatch: HDQRS.

Friday, March 24, left camp at 5 a.m.; marched thirteen miles; course northwest; crossed East Branch of Fish River at 10 a.m.; crossed the Main Branch of Fish River at 1.30 p.m. Command went into camp one mile west of the crossing, on the road leading to Deer Park, at 2.45 p. m. General Slack, commanding First Brigade, which was the rear guard, reported his train had been attacked by a small party of rebel cavalry.

Twenty-first Iowa lost 1 killed and 2 wounded, the skirmish line and reserves being halted until morning.

At 3 a.m. on Monday, March 27, the enemy advanced a strong skirmish line, which was promptly driven back.

The evening of yesterday the command engaged in throwing up rifle-pits, and making slow advances upon the line of the enemy.

Thursday, March 30, heavy skirmish firing about daylight, and was continued until 8 a.m. Captain James T. Reed, of my staff, slightly wounded in leg by pieces of spent shell.

At 3 p.m. received orders to withdraw my command from the line of investment and report to Major-General Canby for orders, who directed me to take charge of a supply train of quartermaster's and commissary of subsistence stores, and proceed to Holyoke, for the purpose of communicating with and supplying Major-General Steele's command.

At 6 p.m. heard firing in the direction of Blakely; sent forward a squadron of cavalry, which was in camp as an advance guard; immediately followed it with two regiments of infantry and a section of artillery.

Marched about three miles, and everything becoming quiet, and the night becoming very dark, I returned to camp, which point I reached at 9 p.m. Sunday, April 2, at 6 a.m. received information of a party of rebel scouts.

The Twenty-third Wisconsin Infantry was engaged in building a battery in front of General Hawkins' command.

Monday, April 10, received orders at 12.30 a.m. to withdraw forces from the enemy's works, and prepare to move at daylight.

Tuesday, April 11, remained in camp all day until 6 p.m.; marched to Starke's Landing, a distance of thirteen miles.

Found the city evacuated, the enemy having left the night before.JAMES C. VEATCH,Brigadier-General, Commanding.Captain F. W. EMERY,Assistant Adjutant-General.After the war, Veatch became the Indiana Adjutant General in 1869, and was active in local veterans and fraternal organizations, including the Grand Army of the Republic and the Freemasons.

[1] James C. Veatch died December 22, 1895, in Rockport, Indiana and was buried at Sunset Hill Cemetery.

[4] He was survived by three children, and the youngest generation Veatch is now in college at Iowa State University.