In the late autumn of 1872, a former Union Army sergeant named Gilbert Bates stepped onto British soil carrying an unfurled American flag. Most people thought he was walking into a hostile environment. Only a few years earlier, Britain had heavily favored the Confederacy during the American Civil War, keeping tensions between the two nations raw. Yet Bates believed ordinary citizens across the Atlantic didn't harbor deep-seated hatred for the United States. He set out on foot across Great Britain to prove it, turning a casual wager into a legendary journey of international reconciliation.
Who Was Sergeant Gilbert Bates?
Gilbert H. Bates was born in New York in 1836 and later settled in Wisconsin. When the American Civil War broke out, he enlisted in the 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery Regiment, serving his country faithfully. After the guns fell silent and the Union was preserved, Bates returned to civilian life as a farmer in Edgerton, Wisconsin.
Despite putting down his rifle, Bates kept thinking about the divisions tearing people apart. He noticed that while the politicians and newspapers constantly stoked anger between the North and South, everyday citizens were tired of fighting. This realization sparked an audacious idea: what if a Union veteran walked right through the former Confederate states carrying the Stars and Stripes?
The Pre-Reconstruction Southern Walk
Before taking his mission overseas, Bates tested his theory at home in 1868. He made a bet with local skeptics that he could walk completely unarmed and without money from Vicksburg, Mississippi, to Washington, D.C., dressed in his full Union uniform. Even famous figures like Mark Twain doubted him, writing that Bates would likely return missing a limb.
Instead of facing violence, Bates received overwhelming Southern hospitality. Citizens in towns across Mississippi, Alabama, and Virginia fed him, gave him a place to sleep, and cheered him on. Women in Montgomery even presented him with a custom silk sash for his uniform. The successful journey proved to Bates that ordinary people valued peace over continued hostility.
Taking the Flag Across the Atlantic
Encouraged by his success at home, Bates turned his attention to Great Britain in 1872. The geopolitical climate between the US and Britain was tense. During the Civil War, the British government permitted Confederate warships to be built in its shipyards, severely damaging American commerce and souring diplomatic ties. Many Americans still held a grudge.
Bates accepted a new wager: he bet that British citizens would welcome an American soldier carrying the national flag just as warmly as the former Confederates had. He landed in the United Kingdom and prepared to walk hundreds of miles from the Scottish border down to London.
Carrying his flag aloft in his old Union uniform, Bates walked through villages, towns, and industrial cities. The response shocked any remaining doubters. Far from being jeered, Bates was met with massive crowds. In Glasgow, roughly 10,000 people turned out in George Square to cheer for him. The Lord Provost of Glasgow even presented him with an engraved silver casket.
The Journey to London and National Fame
As Bates marched south toward London, the crowds grew larger by the day. Locals refused to let him pay for meals or lodging, eager to show their goodwill toward America. By the time he reached the outskirts of London, the throng of supporters was so dense that he had to finish part of the journey in a carriage just to clear the streets.
Once in the capital, he raised the American flag side-by-side with the Union Jack. Realizing he had won his wager decisively, he sent a telegram to his friend back home with a simple message: "Cancel wager". To Bates, the monetary bet didn't matter anymore; the human connection was far more valuable.
His journey captured the imagination of the British public. He met political elites, received countless gifts, and was even immortalized with a wax figure at the famous Madame Tussauds museum.
Legacy and Later Life
Gilbert Bates didn't just walk for personal glory. He leveraged his newfound fame for charitable causes, donating the proceeds from his published accounts of the walks to organizations like the Infant Orphan Asylum at Wanstead.
Later in life, Bates capitalized on his adventurous spirit by touring with William "Buffalo Bill" Cody's famous Wild West Show, sharing stories of his incredible marches with audiences across the country. He lived to be 81 years old, passing away in February 1917, leaving behind a legacy that transcended borders. You can learn more about 19th-century transatlantic relations through archives maintained by the Library of Congress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Gilbert Bates march across England?
He wanted to prove that everyday British citizens harbored no lingering malice toward the United States following the American Civil War, using a friendly wager as the catalyst.
How long was his walk through Great Britain?
Bates walked roughly 350 to 400 miles, starting near the Scottish border and finishing his trek in central London.
How did the British public react to a Union uniform?
Instead of showing hostility due to Britain's implicit support for the Confederacy during the war, crowds greeted him with intense enthusiasm, throwing parades and offering him food and lodging.
Did Bates perform similar walks anywhere else?
Yes. Four years prior to his English trip, he successfully walked nearly 1,500 miles from Vicksburg, Mississippi, to Washington, D.C., through the former Confederate states.
