The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-07-03


ONE OF BEN's ARMY.
1 Camp at Gladevizle June 81, 1868.
The Murder Of Doctor Harvey Baker
by the Yankees.
We have learned all the particulars Of this
cold FLOODED and inhuman murder of one OF
our most estimable citizens by the East Ten
nessee tories and their allies, the Yankees.
| Dr. Bakers house is about ten miles below
Knoxville, on the main Western road On
Friday afternoon last he told his wife and
family he could do no good staying at home,
and believed he would come up to town where
he might be of some assistance in its defence.
He got his gun and was in his yard when
Yankee rode up and presented his gun at
him. Dr. B. told him not to shoot, that he
was citizen and did not belong to the army.
But the soldier in place Of desisting raised
his gun to his face to take sight, and fred,
DIR. B firing at about the same time. Dr. B.
then went into his house and locked the doors,
sending his family up stairs. His wife in
SISTED he should go up stairs with them, which
he did soon after. In shert time the SOL
der who had fred on DR.. Baker brought up
"a large number Of men who surrounded the
house and commenced firing through the win
dows on both sides, demanding that the men
in the house should surrender. Mrs. Baker
came to the window and told them there was
no man in the house but her husband, and it
they would cease firing he would surrender
they continued firing, and Doctor Baker came
i to the window once or twice, and told them
there was no man in the house but himself,
and if they would cease firing, he would sur
render. But whenever he presented himself
l az u IL G.
turned the fire with his pistol. In a few
minutes number of them broke open the
lower doors and entered the house, and COM
lmenced firing through the ceiling into the
room where DR.. Baker and his family were.
!. They then went up the stairway and demand
E ed that the men should come out and surren-
. der. Mrs. Baker came out and told them
there was no man in the house except DIR. Ba
u ker, and if they would not fire upon him he
!. would come out. They ordered her to go away
- Baker then pulled his wife in the room and
!, !, threw the door open. They fred upon hin
u with their guns and he returned the fire will
'e his pistols. The Yankees present having ex
y hausted their ammunition, threw their gun
: with fixed bayonets at him-he throwing tn
!. guns back again at them. A number of Yam
W kee reinforcements then came up with leadet
guns and fred volley at him, inficting tw
e. mortal wounds. DR.. B. said to his wife
- "They have killed me-" and fell; his wife j
J. endeavoring to support him, fell with him.
10 The Yankees then entered the room-one {
y them who had no bayonet on his gun, jobbe
him in the mouth with the muzzle Of his gu
al another ran his bayonet through his chez
J, Others struck him on the head One rufEa
~ pushed Mrs. Baker aside from her husban
ed with his bayonet.
IN DR.. Baker asked to be turned on his sid
70 and asked for water. After he drank, he O
- served to the crowd of Yankees around hi
his that they were a cowardly set Of sceundrel
lch SO many Of them to assault and murder o.
of man.
Ebe Two of the Yankees were dangerously
:. not MORALLY wounded. They went on to t
lu next house and had their wounds dresse
not and said DIR. Baker was the earnest man th
yet ever saw.
"a DR.. Baker was one Of the earliest of o
Il, Ecitizens to espotse the cause Of the Sout
a.! and was an ardent secessionist from the
70" ginning. We have no doubt some renega
me tory from East Tennessee had given the "a
arr KEGS full information about Dr. Bakers ser
Iments and his activity in the cause Of
:. = South, and that they intended to seize up
ne some pretence to murder him. ~ Il
aid After the cowardly scoundrels had murd
ed ed her husband, they commenced robbing
wife Of her iewelry and carried off eyerythl
o. thew could find Of value that was easy to
'sed concealed. Among other things, they too
iver breast pin containing miniature likeness
-, H. RoEer act in gold. -Knorville Register