Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-03-17

litcal fight in 1860, and was one of
the presidential electors on the Brock
inridge-Lane ticket
When the fire-capped clouds OF civil
war lowered over the Southland and his
own native State declared its ale
glance to the Southern sisterhood, the
chivalrous William Brimage Bate, a
hero of the Mexican war, was among
the first to enlist for the strife, enter
ing the Confederate service as pri-
vate in one of the first formed COM
panies.
Calamity in action soon won for
him recognition, which followed in
rapid promotions until the termina-
ton Of the war in 1865, when, as ma
jor general, he surrendered with the
Army of Tennessee. Among the bat
ties in which he participated with
great bravery and distinction was Shi-
lob, in which he was severely and at
the time thought to be mortally
wounded; the battle Of Chickamauga,
where he had three horses killed I'M
der him and lost So per cent of his
men while driving the Federal sol
diers from their positions; at Mission
airy Ridge, where he held the line to
the right of Bragg's headquarters and
was the last to leave the field; the
hundred days battle in Georgia, MUIR
freesboro, Franklin, Nashville, and
finally Bentonville, N. G.
He was under the necessity Of car
rying clutches the whole time from
his partial recovery after Shiloh until
the end of the war. He was three
times severely wounded, and had six
horses killed under him in battle. His
war record is one Of the proudest her
itages of Tennessee, and from the day
he returned to private life after the
war, to the day of his death, the devo-
ton of the people of his native State
never wavered. The death of Senator
Bate reduces the list of ex-Confeder-
ates who served in the congress just
ended, leaving but two who reached
the grade of general officer.
In all reunions and celebrations of
those who fought for the South in the
civil war, Senator Bate always took
an active interest, and he was among
the first to do honor to the memory of
those soldiers when stricken by death.
But little more than year ago on
the death of Gen. Gordon, Senator
Bate summoned all Of the ex-Confed-
crates of the house and senate to a
meeting, which promptly adopted the
resolutions which he had prepared in
respect to the distinguished dead.
Senator Bate was the only member
of the house or senate who saw serv-
ice during the Mexican war, and like
wise ranked all others in the service
of the South, having held the grade Of
major general. The two other gener-
al officers in congress are Gen. Pettus,
| aged "a. and Gen. Morgan, aged 81, Of
| Alabama
Senators Daniel Of Virginia, Cock
rell of Missouri, Tillman of South
Carolina, McLaurin and Money Of
Mississippi, McEnery of Louisiana,
Blackburn and McCreary of Kentucky.
and Mallory of Florida, and Repre-
sentatives Pierce and Richardson OF
| Tennessee Williams and Spight of
Mississippi, Livingston of Georgia and
Meyer of Louisiana also served in the
Confederate service, but none Of them
commanded more than regiment or
served on general officers staff,
while many fought in the ranks.
AS public official the career OF
Senator Bate was as creditable for
loyalty and integrity as his military
record was conspicuous for bravery
and gallantry. Two terms as COVER
nor of Tennessee resulted in his cleo
ton in 1887 to succeed Whitthorne in
the United States senate He was re
elected at the expiration of each term
his last election being the fourth sue
! cessive time the honor has been con
ferred upon him. In the senate he
was esteemed for the highest, qualities
that can commend public servant
and of him it can be said that no pur
er man ever wore the senatorial toga
Integrity was his shibboleth ant
scrupulously did he defend it. In hi!
last hours he called his wife to his
bed and requested that she not leave
: Washington with slightest obligation
unredeemed. This was the foundation
of his character.
senator Bate was DurleQ IN Deautl
full Mount Olivet Cemetery, in the cit.
) of Nashville, according to his re
quest when he knew that he coult
not live, and his body rests beside hi
l dead children, who are all buriet
there. Distinguished honors wer
: shown him at the funeral. He is sur
t vived by his wife. two daughters, Mrs
: Thomas f. Mastin Of Grand View
r Tex, and Mrs. O. W. Childs Of Lo
: Angeles; also by one brother, Capt
: James H. Bate, of Gallatin, Tenn, an,
one sister. Mrs. Elizabeth Tyree, o
s Fresno, Cal.
e As to His Successor,
The Commercial Appeal, in dis
g cussing the death of Senator Bate, an