The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-02
] Sci: v KA 4 IS
DIED D Ed last NIGHT
Was Supcrintendent Of the Tele-
graph Service During the
Civil War.
SENT FAMOUS MESSAGES
For Many Years He Was in
Charge Of the Postal Bust
nnss n Local District.
/ SENT FAMOUS MESSAGES

Mr.. Joseph w. Rates. for many years
the most prominent telegraph opera
tor In Virginia, and perhaps In tho
entire South, died last hight at 1888
o'clock at the home OF Lis daughter.
Mrs a. NJ. Gum, No. 11s East Ninth
Street, Manchester.
Since his retirement as superinten-
dent OF the Postal Telegraph Cable
Company. April 1, 1908. HIr. Hates had
lived at his country home at Bon Air.
and was on a visit to his daughter
when lie died.
Mr.. Rates began life at the bottom.
| In 1858 he started work as teIe-
grapher In Petersburg, employed 5y
the Washington and New Orleans Telc-
when all messages were received on
paper. and there were but n few Of the
most expert operators who we're able
to take at all by sound. Mr.. Hates
soon learned this. and in 1859 was
transferred to Richmond. From here
he went to Alexandria. where he was
in charge OF the Office there for the
same company until Its occupation by
Federal troops In 1860.
Service In War Time.
Going then to Manassas Junction lie
was In charge OF the Office there during
tho battles OF Blackburn's Ford and
Manassas, and for several weeks did
the work OF the Office BY himself. He
transmitted the famous message from
President Jefferson Davis to General
Joseph z. Johnston at Winchester. or
dering that officer to make junction
with General Bcauregard at Manassas.
| The message was sent over a newly
constructed line and had to be repeat
ed many times by Mr.. Hates before the
operator at Winchester could get 1t
! correctly.
| In the fall OF 1861 he was again
| transferred to Richmond. and In the
spring of 1852 to Columbus. KY, where
| he was operator at the headquarters
| of Generals Polk and Beauregard. He
was with Beauregard at Humboldt and
| Corinth Miss. during the siege Of that
| town. and the battle of Shiloh. While
| there he transmitted many cipher mes
sages to the department. in Richmond.
| This was In 1862. in the summer Of
which year he accompanied tie Con-
| federate army on It's retreat from
| Corinth to Tupelo Miss, sharing all
| the fatigucs and priyations Of the SOL
| dIers.
Put in Charge of Lines.
Early in 1863 he was appointed by
General Beauresard superintendent of
! the Confederate lines around Charles
| ton. 1t was here that his ability as
an electrician became Of great service
to his general. Flo completed lines to
| all the forts connecting Forts Sumter
land Moultrie. by land wires and cable.
| with headquarters in Charleston. and
! maintained telegraphlc communication
/ with Sumter during the bombardment
/ by the Federal batteries He was
! warmly commended for his work here
/, and elsewhere by General Beauregard
| and other officers OF the Confederacy.
1 Mr.. Hates remained In charge of the
4 Office at Charleston during the siege
! of that city, and was in 1854 sent
\ y, aoly 10 cfn,,n nd
!, AT the, close OF the war Mr.. Hates
/ and number OF other operators who
/ had served through the fonr years
were. forced to seek employment In the
formation of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company, when he was made
superintendent OF the lines from Wash
| ington to Chattanooga. Tenn, with
| headquarters in Lynchburg.
In 1882 he was appointed general SUI
/ rerintendent of the Southern Telegraph
Company. in which position he remain.
l ed until this company was absorbed by
the Western Union.
With Postal Company Here.
In the latter part of 1889. when the
territory. it selected him as It's general
sMpsrln.saden. for lines Is IN the sc nth.
t Tine Of his r retirement IRENE in 1904 ' -
/ Mr. Hates was held in the most af.
/ fcctionatc regard by all OF the many
all Of the old.timers he was known. tc
i the time OF his death as Mars joe"
i Some time ago Mr.. Rates suffered g
stroke OF paralysis and his health Las
sons-Messrs. L. r. and Joseph w
Rates. Jr., and two daughters. Mrs. a
NJ. Gum. OF Manchester. and Mrs. j
i T. w. Curtis. of this city.
i Arrangements for the funeral hayf
4 not yet been made, but 1t Is probable
that the body will be taken to Bon All
Il for BURIAL