Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-13
from Manassas to strausburg, which had

" ADv~ W. NpANbibls' N.Y. HhtiC hS vas
operator at the headquarters Of Generals
(Bishop) Polk and Beauregsrd. His
next field Of operations was at humbOlt
AMI Corinth, Miss. with Beauregard.
where he remained during tho memora-
ble siege OF that town and the battle of
Shiloh. While there he transmitted
numerous cipher messages of General
Beauregard's to the department at Rich-
mond, some of which were said TO have
been taken off the wires by Union OPP
perGtor at or near Huntsville, Ala, and
given to the enemy. This was in 1852,
in the summer of which year Mr.. Kates
accompanied the Confederate army in
its retreat from Corinth to Tupelo. Miss.
sharing all the fatigues and privations of
the soldiers.
1t should he mentioned here that
shortly after the outbreak OF the war all
the telegraph lines in the South were
operated under a new organization called
the Southern Telegraph Company, of
which DIR. W. s. Morris, of Lynchburg,
was the president and j. X. Dowell, OF
Richmond, the general superintendent.
In the fall Of 1852 Mr.. kGtes came TO
Richmond to recuperate, and later in the
same year be vas ordered to Charleston,
s. C., to take charge OF the regular com
mercal office OF the Southern Company
/ in that city.
TELEGR4PHTNG TO SUMTER.
Early in 1863 he was appointed by
General Beauregard superintendent OF
the Confederate military lines around
Charleston. 1t was here his ability and
experience rs an electrician became of
vast service to General Beauregard He
completed the erection OF lines 10 all the
forts, connecting Forts Sumter aud
Moultrie and surrounding batteries by
| land wires and caole with headquarters
! in Charleston. and maintained tele-
! graphic communication with Sumter
during the terrific bOmbardment of that
/ fortress 10y the United States batteries
on Morris's island and the irOnclads in
| the harbor. At one time when the fire
on the fort was very heavy the cable con
meeting It with Charleston was broken by
"a shot or a she'll and communication
ceased, much to the dismay of the brave
defenders OF the fort, who, as long as
the telegraph instrument continued
" ticking" knew that they we're not en-
| tirelv cnt off from the eout,rl world. The
| approach to Sumter from Charleston,
altogether impracticable III the daytime,
was dangerous aud exceedingly risky
even in the darkness OF night. The sue
ceeding uight the broken cable vas eX-
umined by Mr.. Hates, who went over its
route in a small boat He found that u
was deeply imbeddcd in the sand, and
the whereabouts Of the break could not
be ascertained. General BeaureRarG
then directed that n new cable be Ibid,
which order was successfully executed
the second or third night after the break
| by Mr. kates, and communication was
re-established before daylight, and
without the knowledge of the Federal
batteries at Cummings's Point, only a
few hundred yards distant. For tnis
work he WIS warmly commended md
complmented by General Beauregard
and bis adjutAnt-general, Thomas Jor-
dan.
Mr.. Hates remained in charge OF the
telegraph at Charleston during the bonn
bardment of that city, and was trans
ferred to Richmond in 1851.
TELEGRAPH CHANGES.
At the close OF the war Mr.. Katcs Az
number Of other southern operator
iucluding the late Mr.. q. VI. J. Paynte.i
Joseph NcGovorn, George McHoycrn,
and John Crowley. had to seek employ
nent at the North. They were kindly
received ond promptly given work with
liberal salaries, through the generosity Of
the late Marshall Leiierts, then general
manager of the American Telegraph
/ Company. The lattercompany had pre-
viously absorbed, by purchase, the
/ Washington and New Orleans Company,
and its successor, the Southern Tele-
graph Company. Ia 1866 the Western
Union Telegraph Company, which was
composed of the union Of number Of
small lines in the western States, effected
a consolidation OF the American Tele-
graph Company and the South
western Telegraph Company. the lines OF
which extended throughout all the south
ern States east and west of the Missis-
sippi river. Dr. Norvin Green, now
president, and Mr.. John Van Horne,
now vice president of the Western Union
Telegraph Company, were then the
former president and the latter gen
eral superintendent of the Southwestern
Telegraph Company.
APPoISTED SUPERINTENDENT.
simultaneously with the con,olidation
Mr.. Hates was appointed superintendent
of the Western Onion Company with
headquarters at Lynchburg) of the lines
from Washington to Chattanooga, Tenn.
lie remained at this post until 1872,
when be was transferred to Richmond as
superintendent Of the district comprising
Virginia, North Carolina, and portions
of Tennessee and Georgia. In 1879 the
American Union Telegraph Company
was organized. and after building lines
throughout the North and considerable
portion of the South it effected con-
tolidation with TIE Western Union IN
1851.
THE LAST OPPOSITION.
In the succeeding year, 1882, the South
ern Telegraph Company began the con-
struction of a competing line with the
Western Union from Washington
throughout the southern States. Mr.
Hates was appointed general superinten-
dent Of the new line. He organized the
operating force and opened the Offices of
the company in all OF the principal cities
in the South Atlantic States. The
Southern lines were finally absorbed by
the Western Union about year ago,
and with the closing OF its offices Mr..
Kates's services, after long and honor
able career, terminated here. He has
DOW been appointed superintendent of
the Philadelphia Locsl Telegraph Com
panv. which is worked in connection with
the Western Union Telegraph Company.
1t is q position OF great responsibility.
requiring experience and executive
ability OF a high order. Mr.. Hates car
ries with him the best wishes of large
circle OF friends and acquaintances.
Husdi1zs court.
The case OF james Jenkins, charged
with feloniously shooting and wounding
James Titmous, was called and con-
tinued until Saturday next
James Farmer, William Thurston, and