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Brigadier-General Richard C. Gatlin was a native of
North Carolina, and was appointed from that State to the United States military academy, where he was graduated in 1832, in the same class with
Generals Ewell,
Archer and
Humphrey Marshall.
He received a lieutenancy in the Seventh infantry, and served on frontier duty in
Indian Territory, in the
Florida war, 1839-42, and was subsequently stationed in
Louisiana until 1845, when he joined the army of occupation in
Texas, and was promoted to captain.
He participated in the war with
Mexico, being engaged in the defense of
Fort Brown in May, 1846; was wounded in storming the enemy's works at
Monterey, and received the brevet of major.
In 1847 he was tendered the commission of colonel, First North Carolina volunteers, but declined it. Subsequently he served in
Missouri and
Louisiana, took part in the
Seminole war of 1849-50, and was on frontier duty in
Kansas,
Indian Territory,
Arkansas and
Dakota until he marched with
Johnston to
Utah.
In 1860 he shared the march to
New Mexico; was stationed at
Fort Craig, and was promoted major of Fifth infantry in February, 1861.
While on a visit to
Fort Smith, Ark., on April 23, 1861, he was captured by the forces of the
State, and released on parole, after which he resigned his commission and tendered his services to his native State.
He was appointed adjutant-general of the
State, with the rank of major-general of militia, and received the commission of colonel of infantry, in the regular army of the
Confederate States.
Subsequently he was given command of the Southern department, coast defense, with headquarters at
Wilmington, and being promoted brigadier-general in August, 1861, was assigned to command of the department of North Carolina and the coast defenses of the
State.
Very soon afterward Fort Hatteras was taken by the
Federals, and he made energetic preparations for the defense of New Bern.
He located his headquarters at
Goldsboro in September,
Gen. 
