Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-11-01
Col. Bakers Funeral.

The funeral of Col. Baker, at Washing
ton on Thursday, was exceedingly impress
i've. From the hour of ten o'clock in the
morning. when the citizens and troops first
began to assemble where the dead hero was
lying, down to three in the afternoon, when
it was deposited in the congressional ceme-
terry, the whole capital bore witness to the
solemn pageant of the day. AT the house
of Col. Webb, where Senator Baker made
his home, the ceremonies were deeply i'm
pressive. The princinal rooms were all
thrown open, and the assembled crowd stood
in silent awe. The troops were marshaled
in quiet order in the streets, with reversed
arms, their bands prepared for the dead
marches, and the banners festooned in Grape,
hung their shrouded folds around. Within
doors the president of the United States,
the members of his cabinet, Ger. Scott and
portions of his staff, gathered near the
mourners, grouped around the dead. The
coffin was covered with the flag Of the Union,
and on the top lay two beautiful wreaths-
address was made by Rev. DIR. Sunderland,
and was in many respeers remarkable.
His decided conservative position is well
known, and the audience were not little
surprised to hear him say in the course of
his remarks that slavery was the cause of
the war and its result must be emancipation.
Enlarcing on this idea, he went on to say
that under such standard as this g the war
at once becomes holy one. 1t appeals to
all the highest impulses of human nature,
and all the dearest hopes of the struggling
millions of mankind. 1t takes the contest
away from the dust and Babel of political
jugglery and strife, ard hallows it among
the most sacred memorials of the American
revolution. Party and sect, prejudice and
passion, self-nterest and ACKNOWLEDGMENT
sink in the dust before the feet and at the
affairs Of the genius of liberty. In the
achievement of the result before our coun-
try no sacrifice that we can make is too ga
cred or too great. Il cost our fathers much
of blood and treasure to establish this I'm
ion. Let US all be willing to expend as
much to maintain it. The death of Leon
idas sanctitied Thermopyla; the death o
Warren sanctifed Bunker Hill. So til,
death of Baker sanctitied Virginia-ren.
dering the spot where he fell, dying for hu
man freedom, sacred soil indeed"
!. A thrilling incident occurred at the hous
r Of Col. Webb, just as the remains of Col
Baker were being removed TO the grave
) His brother, Surgeon Baker, came forward
: and choking with tears, requested that III
5. body might be borne out by number Q
:. young soldiers who had rescued It, at I'll
peril Of their lives, from the hands Of III
enemy. When Baker fell il was foun
= that after he had been pierced in front h
II six rife bullets, the barbarous enemy ha
r. thrust two bayonets into tie back of ii
u mutllated corpse. The attempt was the
II made to carry him off as trophy, b.
i'll these young heroes sprang to the rescue
err all that remained TO them of their con
mandcr. They fought hand TO hand wi
n rebels, face to face in close and deadly e.
Is, counter, until the body was recovered, al
In borne oil in triumph to the Union cam
to This instance of true courage and chivall
as is worthy Of immortal honor 1t was W,