American Battlefield Trust - Martin Van Buren Bates (AKA the Kentucky Giant) was 7ft 7in tall and joined the 5th Kentucky Infantry in 1861. His ferocity in battle and imposing figure saw
![Martin Van Buren Bates was 7ft 7in tall and joined the 5th Kentucky Infantry in 1861. His ferocity in battle and imposing figure saw him quickly promoted to the rank of captain. Martin Van Buren Bates was 7ft 7in tall and joined the 5th Kentucky Infantry in 1861. His ferocity in battle and imposing figure saw him quickly promoted to the rank of captain.](https://preview.redd.it/zh0n6q8l24881.jpg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=0ef8fde7b5fcebc24f86d63752c18f22016e3769)
Martin Van Buren Bates was 7ft 7in tall and joined the 5th Kentucky Infantry in 1861. His ferocity in battle and imposing figure saw him quickly promoted to the rank of captain.
I Discovered my Great Uncle was a Giant | by Ira J. Bates | Life & Times of the Kentucky River Giant | Medium
![I Discovered my Great Uncle was a Giant | by Ira J. Bates | Life & Times of the Kentucky River Giant | Medium I Discovered my Great Uncle was a Giant | by Ira J. Bates | Life & Times of the Kentucky River Giant | Medium](https://miro.medium.com/max/1100/1*PYYe7FJH6-iUvq17MtPJug.jpeg)
I Discovered my Great Uncle was a Giant | by Ira J. Bates | Life & Times of the Kentucky River Giant | Medium
![Celebrating a Giant Year. A Report to our Readers | by Ira J. Bates | Life & Times of the Kentucky River Giant | Medium Celebrating a Giant Year. A Report to our Readers | by Ira J. Bates | Life & Times of the Kentucky River Giant | Medium](https://miro.medium.com/max/236/1*vwRA56LfoLmiF0a3OiLJ5g.jpeg)