M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1861-10-31
Death of Col. Baker.

Col. E. D. Baker, U. S. Senator
from Oregon, has fallen in battle at
the head ofhis regiment. The coun.
try's loss is q severe one. No braver
man or more accomplished gentleman,
has lost his life in this unhappy war.
He was anative Of England and came
to this country with his parents in his
infancy: During the Mexican war
he was Dol. of one of the Illinois reg.
imcnts, and distinguished himself, by
leading his men in one of the brilliant
charges that won the day at Cerro
Gorda. After the close of the Mexi.
can war, he emigrated to California.
His energy of character, his chival.
rous department and splendid talent
made him man of mark. He was
one of the true friends ofthe lamented
Broderick, and his oration on the
death of that true man and Senator,
was masterpiece, and gave him
national reputation. Its thrilling elo-
quence touched tho hearts of the peo-
pie. Disappointed in his political
preferment, in California, he removed
to Oregon, and was elected U. S. Sen
ator by coalition of Douglas Demo,
Gratis and Republicans against the Joe
Lane Democrats. He entered the
Senate of the United States last win.
ter, with O high reputation for elo.
quence, which ho fully maintaincd.-I
One of his most remarkable speeches
was during the'late extra session of
Congress, in reply to John Q. Breck-
inridge.
Ae accepted the command Of the
California Regiment, so called, which
was raised in the cities of New York
and Philadelphia and Was the largest
regiment in the service, numberingI
about fifteen hundred men.
The writer met Col. Baker in June
last, OH o steamer going from Balti-
more to Fortress Monroe. lie said
be did not expect to survive the war
that, in his judgment he never should
see the shores of the Pacific again.
This was hardly so much ofa presen-
timent on his part as a calcuIation.-I
He said the troops were green, and i'll
would be necessary for the officers to
expose themselves. He had seen SER
vice, and would feel it duty 10 lead
his regiment. The enemy had plenty
Of sharp shooters, and he presumed
they would pick him off. He said he
believed it would be his fate to die at
the head Of his regiment--and so he
died.
1t may illustrate the temper md
character Of the man to mention that,
after saying with as perfect calmnesS
as he could have named the most tri-
vial circumstance, that he believed it
would be his fale to fall in battle, and
that he should never see his home on
the Pacific again, he retired from the
guards where he had engaged in con
versation, to the cabin and seating
himself at the piano, played with
grace and skill remarkable fus gen.
tleman amatuer on that instrument,
several touching airs, among them {
that favorite of the English soldiers
before Sebaspol-sweet and mournial
Annie Laurie.
In person Col. Baker was erect, tall
and commanding. His features were
regular in outline and refined IN ex.
preston his eye blue and keen his
clean .shaven face rosy with health. -
The top of his head was bald, and the q
fringe of hair about his ears and col. /
lar was fine as unSpun silk and white
Us snow.
We believe he never was married
His mother is living neur Springfield,
III. He visited her little more than
a year ago, aud spent several days in t
her humble home, Commercial.