Alfred Cate facts for kids

Alfred Madison Cate (born December 12, 1822 – died September 13, 1871) was an American politician, soldier, and farmer. He served two terms in the Tennessee Senate from 1865 to 1869.

Alfred Cate was a Radical Republican. This group supported Governor William G. Brownlow and wanted to make sure formerly enslaved people had civil rights. He also helped lead the Republican Party in Tennessee in the late 1860s.

During the American Civil War, Cate stayed loyal to the Union. He helped organize a plan to burn railroad bridges in East Tennessee. He also fought for the Union Army and became a captain.

Early Life and Family

Alfred Cate was born in Jefferson County, Tennessee. His parents were Elijah and Nellie Cate. When he was young, his family moved to McMinn County. They had a large farm there.

By 1850, Alfred Cate was married and had moved to Ooltewah, Tennessee, in Hamilton County. He worked as a farmer there.

Standing Up for the Union

When the Civil War began, Alfred Cate supported the Union. His family was divided, with some supporting the Union and others the Confederacy.

Alfred and his brother, George, attended a meeting in Knoxville in May 1861. This meeting was called the East Tennessee Convention. People at this meeting spoke out against states leaving the Union. They even asked the state government if East Tennessee could become its own Union-supporting state.

The Bridge Burnings

After Confederate troops took control of East Tennessee, a Union supporter named William B. Carter planned to burn nine railroad bridges. The goal was to help the Union Army invade the area.

Carter asked Alfred Cate to burn four bridges near Chattanooga. These included bridges over the Hiwassee River and Chickamauga Creek. Cate decided to personally oversee the burning of the Hiwassee bridge. He knew it was dangerous because it was near a town.

On November 8, 1861, the plan was put into action. Cate and his team successfully destroyed the Hiwassee bridge. His brother William also burned two Chickamauga Creek bridges. However, the Union Army did not invade as planned. Confederate leaders then started arresting Union supporters in the area.

Joining the Union Army

Because of his Union support, Cate was in danger. He left his home in November 1861 to avoid arrest. He traveled about 300 miles, often hiding in caves. He finally reached Somerset, Kentucky, in early 1862.

Cate joined the 1st Tennessee Brigade as a lieutenant. He led a raid that captured supplies and Confederate soldiers. In September 1862, he became a captain. He was in charge of getting supplies for his brigade.

He fought in several important battles, including the Battle of Stones River. He also took part in battles near Chattanooga, like Kennesaw Mountain. In 1864, he became captain of Company G of the 6th Regiment Tennessee Volunteer Infantry. He left the army a few months later.

Serving in the State Government

In 1865, after the Union Army secured East Tennessee, Alfred Cate was elected to the Tennessee Senate. He represented several counties, including Hamilton.

Supporting Civil Rights

Cate was a Radical Republican. This group wanted to punish former Confederates. They also strongly supported civil rights for formerly enslaved people.

The state legislature quickly approved the Thirteenth Amendment. This amendment ended slavery in the United States. In 1866, Cate voted to approve the Fourteenth Amendment. This important amendment gave civil rights to African Americans.

Leading the Republican Party

Cate was reelected to the Senate in 1867. He also became the chairman of the Republican State Central Committee. This group helped plan the party's strategies and choose candidates for elections.

In 1868, Cate voted against some bills proposed by Governor Brownlow. These bills aimed to stop violence from groups like the Ku Klux Klan. Some people felt the bills were too harsh or would cause more problems.

Cate was also involved in disagreements within the Republican Party. He tried to have another senator removed from office. This caused a lot of debate and surprised many people.

In May 1869, Cate led a very chaotic meeting of the Republican state committee. There was a big fight over who should be the party's candidate for governor. The meeting was so tense that police had to step in to prevent a gunfight.

The party split, and the group Cate supported lost the election. This ended the Radical Republicans' control of the state government.

Later Life

After his second term, Alfred Cate returned to his farm in Ooltewah. He was not as active in state politics anymore. He passed away at his home on September 13, 1871.

Alfred Cate and his wife, Louisa Jackson, had seven children. His brother, William T. Cate, was a sheriff who was killed in a gunfight. His nephew, Gus Cate, also served in the state legislature. The old home of Alfred's father, Elijah, is still standing today and is a historic site.