[3] Attacked by the Western fever which came at some time of life to many of the adventurous men of the Atlantic slope, he sought a taste of Texas experience and journeyed on pony express through the greater part of that state in the years 1855–1856, investing in real estate, much of which his heirs inherited.

[3] When (later Confederate Colonel) Charles F. Fisher contracted to build the first section of the Western North Carolina Railroad from Salisbury to Morganton, Tate took service under him and as agent managed his financial interests.

[4] While in April and the early days of May 1861, without waiting for the State to leave the Union, Vance was raising his "Rough and Ready Guards" across the mountains, and Thomas Settle with fife and drum was getting together his company in Rockingham, and William P. Bynum, already appointed lieutenant-colonel, was organizing his 2nd Regiment of State troops at Raleigh, Tate was hastily winding up his business and calling on his neighbors and friends to form a company to serve under the command of his enterprising chief, Colonel Charles F.

[5] Disembarking and hearing the boom of distant cannon, they marched directly to the battlefield and were led to the front of the Henry House, near which Rickett's Battery was hurling its deadly missiles into the Confederate line.

[7] Eye-witnesses concurred in stating that the 6th North Carolina Regiment, gallantly led by him, engaged in a hand-to-hand encounter with the enemy intrenched behind the wall on the heights, where men were killed not only by bayonets and pistol shots, but by being clubbed by muskets and the ramrods of the artillerists.

The enemy stood with tenacity never before displayed by them, but with bayonet, clubbed musket, sword, pistol, and rocks from the wall, we cleared the heights and silenced the guns.It was on that field that Colonel Avery fell.

[10] When Stoneman's raiders in April, after Lee's surrender, burst through the mountains and approached the Catawba, Colonel Tate, still suffering, joined with others in checking their advance.

[10] Shortly after the close of the war, the stockholders of the Western North Carolina Railroad selected Tate for president of their disorganized, bankrupt, and war-wasted corporation.

[11] He repaired the roadbed and rebuilt bridges, revamped old rolling stock and put it to work; solicited business and inspired the people by his own energy; he haggled over prices and saved with judicious care, so that he righted his employers' affairs and enhanced their property.

[12] With the Eastern Division, from Salisbury to the French Broad River, Tate continued through that era as the financial agent of the stockholders and trustee for the payment of debts already contracted, having surrendered his presidency to the appointee of the Holden Board of 1868.

[13] He labored untiringly and with great success as chairman of the Finance Committee to provide ways and means for the enlargement of leading charities and the establishment of new ones; he carried to completion the legislation which founded and sustained through trying years the Hospital for the Insane at his own home in Morganton.

[14] In 1886, there being a Democratic President, Controller of the Currency Trenholm tendered Colonel Tate, without solicitation on his part, the position of examiner of National Banks in the district stretching from West Virginia to and inclusive of Florida.

[15] He never afterwards held office, but devoted his declining years to the welfare of his family and friends and in rendering such public service as was interesting to his community.

[15] He died suddenly at his home on June 25, 1897, just as he was about to entertain Judge Robinson, then holding court in Morganton, and some members of the bar who were invited to take tea with him.