Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-23
GEN. w. Il. BATE.
A Brief Reference to His Brilliant
.- ~ and Gallant Career.
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/ N1S-A sAo NoAiolAh LAdtu4Hof.
We publish elsewhere in the Examine
letter from Gen. Bate to Col. Coleman
of Memphis, declining to become can
didate for Governor of Tennessee. Tn,
letter is full of moral and political cour
age, patriotic eloquence and self-sacrifice
With a general feeling in his favor al
over the State, especially ON the close 0i
the late Judicial Convention, which prac
tIcally ignored the question of political
disabilitihs in State offices, he does that
in declining which but few men in Ten
nessee, under the circumstances would do.
In this he evInces the same spirit that &C
tuated him when his friends, at the VIM
chester convention, during the war, in
| 1868, (knowing him to be in a condition
| from wounds that would make most men
| quit the field and seek the ease and emol-
uments of civil office presented his name
for the nomination for Governor. Though
in the camp, on clutches, he peremptorily
refused to seek or have any civil Office,
and we well remember his famous tele-
gram in answer To one sent him, when it
was evident that the nomination was at
his asking, and with what burst of en-
thUsiasm it was received and read to the
vast assemble. ttd rather be the
defender UtCen tss Governor of Tennes-
see. Twill accept no ci''' lice, qOlliLe
the foot of an enemy presses her soil. "
And just the same spirit of devotion and
elf-sacrifice for the good of Tennessee
shines all through the letter to Col. Cole
man, and just such man we wanted for
our Governor when we hoisted his name. !
While he says that he does moi believe
himself under political disabilities, and he
gives conclusive reasons for the opinion,
and in which he is supported by our first
legal men, yet as the powers that be at
Washington are acting under the idea that
he is, he determined not TO hazard the
quiet of the State. 1t is not every day
that men can bring themselves to act in
this manner.
And now that he Is not candidate and
asking for no office within the gift of the
people, we can, with the greater freedom,
allude to the antecedents of Gen. Bate, |
who is native of old Sumner. Spring
ing from chivalrous and generous pio- |
neer stock, who subdued the forests and |
the Indian, and reared and educated |
among our people, he gave them, at an
early age, an example of the pluck and |
talent, the untiring energy and resistless
will which has since marked his career in
life. He is eminently self-made man,
his father dying when he was but fifteen
years of age, with an embarrassed estate,
and young Bate, the eldest of the family,
with I'm unfinished education. Feeling
the absolute necessity of personal exer-
ton, he readily surrendered his bOyish
dream of a college life, and plunged at
once into the struggles of real life. En-
gaging as clerk on a steamer plying
between Nashville and New Orleans he
did his part well until the breaking out of
the war with Mexico, when he enlisted as
a private in Louisiana company and
served with distinction to its close, taking
part in number of the greatest battles.
At the close of the war he returned to
Sumner county, and, in a short time, be- I
came connected with the ''Tenth Legion"
newspaper published at Gallatin, in which
le proved himself an able and trenchant
Is well as graceful writer. In 1S49 he
was elected to the Lower House of the
being then in his twenty
second year, and served with distinction,
.aldng at once a high position as a de-
batter. This is the only political Office he
sver filled, except that of ElectOr on the
ticket in 1869. After
he close of the session, he COM
nenced the study of the law, and compile
ed his course at the Lebanon Law School
In 1854 he was elected Attorney General
Tor the Nashville district, which gave him
| fine field for the display of his talents
Is an advocate. His success as States
Attorney was uneXampled. No man ever
leld the position, before or since, who |
vas a greater terror to law breakers, and
more successful in convicting them.
There are those about Nashville now who
nave very vivid recollectiOns of his sleep
ess vigilance as q law officer and prose-
,utor, but who cherish no feelings of
resentment for his sworn duties.
st the close of his term he
declined reelection and resumed the prac-
ice of his profession. In 1861 when the
torn clouds of war burst over the land
le at once enlisted as private in COM
lany being formed in the county; was
Elected its Captain and, on the formation
If the End Tennessee, its Colonel, and
lurued if off, at once to Virginia, then
he seat of war, and was engaged in the
)attle of Aqua Creek, the first fought
Lfter Sumter, participating, also, in the
Teat battle of Manassas. Serving his
irst year in Virginia, he was sent West
1t his own request, and just in time
o take a heroic part in the great
conflict at Shiloh, when he received
| wound in the leg, SCATTERING it and
aiming him for life From this date until
he last folding of the flag his history is
hat of the Army of Tennessee. He had
-isen from rank to rank, from private to
Major General, commanding a corps in
he last battle of the army in Old North
Carolina. Had we space we might give
\ number of instances in which Gen. Bate
exhibited the very loftiest moral and
physical courage, and a marked clear
,ightedness. Who can forget the scene
after the battle of Shiloh, when six of his
family lay upon the feld-three dead,
md among them his gallant brother
Capt. Humphrey Bate, and three
BADLY wounded while near by stretched
lis dead war horse as if to complete
he outline of the sad group. When, af-
er the consultation of the surgeons, it
was decided to amputate his leg (both
ZONES of which below the knee were
hattered) and the decision of the wise
men was communicated to him his calm
md laconic reply which was often told |
Lbout camps was ''No you won't; l intend
o be buried with it" Six months of
suffering followed, in which he sturdlly
'esisted the assaults of death with the pa
fence of philosopher and the resolution
If stole, but he saved his leg and came
pack to the field and his comrades on his
3rutchcs. The test of man is in his evil
Is well as his good fortune, and we
scarcely know which marks him most as
he true man-his fiery and impetuous
bearing amid the death hail at Chicka-
manga, where, in charging the enc
ny's works he had two horses killed and
.he third one wounded under him or the
nisfOrtunes which befeil his decimated
command at Nashville, when, after the
hen recent battle of Franklin, which
thinned the ranks and broke the hopes of
Dur army, it was crushed by the assault of
the enemy, he moved amid its shattered
ranks and broken columns on a wounded
hCrsa HE o+bor bo1yiDc, Ii1ct boor EiIIoJ |