Civil War Confederate Major General, Tennessee Governor, US Senator. At age 19 he enlisted as a Private for service in the Mexican War (1846 to 1848), rising to the rank of Lieutenant in the 3rd Tennessee Volunteer Infantry. After the war he studied law, served in the Tennessee House of Representatives (1849 to 1851), and became a practicing attorney in Gallatin in 1852. He was elected Nashville District Attorney General in 1854. When the Civil War began, Bate joined the Confederate forces as Colonel of the 2nd Tennessee Infantry and first saw action at the First Battle of Manassas (July 1861). He nearly lost a leg in the Battle of Shiloh (April 1862), was promoted to Brigadier General in October 1862, and distinguished himself at the Battle of Chickamauga and the Chattanooga Campaign. In 1864 he was promoted to Major General and commanded Bate's Division during the Atlanta and Carolinas Campaigns. By the end of the war he had been wounded three times and had six horses shot from beneath him. Returning to civilian life, he resumed his law practice in Gallatin while maintaining strong ties to the local Democratic Party. Bate was twice elected Governor of Tennessee, serving from 1883 to 1887, and in 1887 he was elected to the first of four consecutive terms in the US Senate. During his time on Capitol Hill, Bate served as Chairman of the Committees on Improvement of the Mississippi River and its Tributaries, Military Affairs, and Public Health and National Quarantine. He died in Washington DC days into his fourth term. His funeral services were held in the US Senate Chamber.
Civil War Confederate Major General, Tennessee Governor, US Senator. At age 19 he enlisted as a Private for service in the Mexican War (1846 to 1848), rising to the rank of Lieutenant in the 3rd Tennessee Volunteer Infantry. After the war he studied law, served in the Tennessee House of Representatives (1849 to 1851), and became a practicing attorney in Gallatin in 1852. He was elected Nashville District Attorney General in 1854. When the Civil War began, Bate joined the Confederate forces as Colonel of the 2nd Tennessee Infantry and first saw action at the First Battle of Manassas (July 1861). He nearly lost a leg in the Battle of Shiloh (April 1862), was promoted to Brigadier General in October 1862, and distinguished himself at the Battle of Chickamauga and the Chattanooga Campaign. In 1864 he was promoted to Major General and commanded Bate's Division during the Atlanta and Carolinas Campaigns. By the end of the war he had been wounded three times and had six horses shot from beneath him. Returning to civilian life, he resumed his law practice in Gallatin while maintaining strong ties to the local Democratic Party. Bate was twice elected Governor of Tennessee, serving from 1883 to 1887, and in 1887 he was elected to the first of four consecutive terms in the US Senate. During his time on Capitol Hill, Bate served as Chairman of the Committees on Improvement of the Mississippi River and its Tributaries, Military Affairs, and Public Health and National Quarantine. He died in Washington DC days into his fourth term. His funeral services were held in the US Senate Chamber.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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