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144. Tate High School's Namesake Dies in Pensacola 1921 Part I

by Wayne Perkins

Updated: Mar 31, 2022


James Madison Tate was born on December 29, 1837 in Russell County, Alabama, the son of Thomas S. and Louise Reed Tate. His family eventually gravitated to Tuskegee, Alabama in Macon County. Following his preliminary education, he enrolled in the Emory Law School in Oxford, Georgia. Upon completion, he practiced law until the outbreak of the Civil War.


When the call to arms was sounded Tate joined the boys from Macon County and enlisted for sixty days on January 5, 1861 in Company "C" calling themselves the "Tuskegee Light Infantry." They were ordered to Pensacola to assist in the seizure of the Warrington Navy Yard, Fort Barrancas, and Fort McRae. Additionally, they were to tear up the uncompleted railroad tracks leading out of Pensacola to the north. But as the last train pulled out before the tracks were gone, a very ill Private Tate was aboard heading home to recover. Wayne Perkins writes." He missed the train connection in Pollard so another mode of transportation was necessary." Tate himself wrote after the war, "I was compelled to be satisfied with a seat on top or be delayed another day. The driver, with the assistance of two strong men, succeeded in hoisting me with my knapsack to the top of the coach where I was lashed to the railing." Upon recovery, Tate returned to duty with his company.


When his enlistment expired on April 25, 1861 he re-enlisted for twelve months as a 4th Corporal in his company, now part of the 3rd Alabama Infantry Regiment. When this enlistment was up, he enlisted for a 3rd time in Norfolk, Virginia, but this time for the duration of the war. Now he was the Company's 3rd Sergeant and assigned to Battle’s Brigade of Rode’s Division in the Army of Northern Virginia. He would be wounded three times during the war. His first wound was a slight injury at the Battle of South Mountain with his second from a shell fragment received at the breastworks around Richmond during the Seven Days campaign.


However, his third was much more serious and was received at the desperate hand to hand fighting on May 12, 1864 at the “Bloody Angle” at the Battle of Spotsylvania. There, now Lt. Tate was carried to the field hospital by his two comrades and sent home on medical furlough. He was at his home recovering when General Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House. His two brothers Solon Reed (63rd Alabama) and Clarence William (3rd Alabama) would survive the war as well. (Continued in Part II)

1Lt. James Madison Tate, CSA

soldier, lawyer, minister, academic


Old Tate High School that bears his name in honor of James Madison Tate


Symbol of the Tate Aggie's




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