The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-07-10

they must be put up, or they WILL De ell
ed. If empounded, they remain IN pen o
DAYS and are sold the 9th. The cost to the
owner, iftaken out within that time, is 81 for
taking up, and 25 cents per day for keeping.
DT We insert The following particulars o.
the brutal murder Of DIR. Baker, at the re
quest Of Col. Jas. E. Davis, the uncle Of Mrs.
DR.. Baker. Various erroneous accounts hay
ing been published, this was written by the
Rev. Mr.. Park, for the purpose Of giving the
facts Of the case. We copy it from the Knox
vile Register.
Doctor Harvey Baker.
am induced by the various reports in cir
culaiion in reference to this case to give you
a statement of the facts for publication, DR..
Baker was my nearest neighbor, and as good
and true friend as ever | had. / was in the
city when the Federal force came into our
neighborhood, and Of course have no personal
knowledge Of the affair; but | have the facts
from the only reliable witnesses of them
On my way home from this place on last
Friday afternoon, met Confederate scout
ing party under Captain Wigs, about four
| and half miles of Knoxville and was in
formed by him that the Federals were APP
preaching, and that his party had fred on
their advance guard in the road in front of
DIR. Bakers house. Wigs and his men, at
the time of firing on the enemy, occupied a
position on the road leading to Col. HeiskelPs
mill, about 800 yards from the main road
Their guns westsof DR.. Bakers house and
over his garden and orchard. After Wigg
had fired, the Federals advanced rapidly and
turned up the mill road, and. DR.. Baker was
found standing in his back yard close to the
gate, (this and all that follows learn from
Mrs. Baker, who was standing in the back
porch, distant about 4ofeet) His horse was
hitched near, the gate, and he was just going
out to start to Knoxville, anticipating thesap7
proach9of the Federals.. He had a Maynard
rifle in his hand and Colts pistol in his belt
The Federal. soldier who found him thus,
stopped his horse and presented his gun. Dr.
Baker called tolhim.; ADon't fire, am CT
tizen." The Federal cooked his gun aud put
it to his shoulder when Dr.. Baker presented
his gun and fred first, but without bringing
it to his shoulder. The Federal fred imme-
diately after, DR.. Baker shot, and although
there was not more than eighteen feet distance
between them, it seems neither shottoek eff
fect. The Federal fell back to the main road.
and DIR. Baker went into his house and said
to his wife sit is too late; Ican't get away
He told Mrs. B. to take the children and 60
up stairs She insisted on his going also, to
which he consented. The whole family then
at home, consisting Of Dir. Baker, wife, two
small children, Mrs: Bakers little sister a.
bout. ten years Of age, with three or four lit
| tie negroes, were In q room up STAIRS. Ihe
enemy surrounded the house and called upon
the, men to come down and surrender. Dr..
Baker went to the window to reply, when
several shots were fred at him, one whichsit
is supposed passed through the brimsof his
hat, as it was perforated BY a ball some time
during the fight. He then spoke to them from
the window, and proposed to surrender if
they would ceaseto fire. They fred upon
him again, ard then Ne returned the fire with
his pistol. For the third time he called from
the window making the same terms, and they
fred again Mrs. Baker went TO the window
and assured them that her husband was the
only man in the house, that he was.a private
citizen and would surrender if they would
not fire on him. They drove her from the
window with threats DR.. Baker went to the
window again, and was again fred on and
| returned the fire.. Mrs Baken then went out
of the room against the Doctors remonstrance
to speak to the. Federals in the house below
J They occupied the stairs, he passage way be.
| low, the parlor, which was under the room
| occupied by the family, and from the parloi
they were shooting vertically through the cell
| ing and floor above.
Mrs Baker standing at the head of the
stairway begged them to desist and promised
4 that her husband would then come down
They cursed her and threatened to shoot hei
if she did not go back. Three men presented
their guns at her, butsshe still stood and beg
ged for her husband and family, assuring
4 them that children and all were in the room
One Of the three who had presented guns
then cooked his piece. Mrs. B. heard the
click, brought it to his shoulder, and swore
! he would shoot her if she did not go in. She
retired, and when the door was shut two ball.
were fred through it. She made her report
and the Doctor, telling her to stand by the
wall through which the door opened, stepped
forward and threw the door wide open anG
discharged the two remaining balls in his pis
/ toll. How many shots were fired in at him
it is impossible to tell. DR.. Baker snapped
his pistol twice after it was exhausted. One
Federal then threw his gun at Baker, and hi
gathered it and hurled'it back. A second ont
threw in his gun with bayonet on it, Baker
seized it and rushed nearly to the door and
pitched it atthem. AT this juncture his wife
saw him reel, and he exclaimed, s.Agnes,
am killed. Mrs. B. sprang forward ane
caught him, when slapping his right hand OF
] his left shoulder he said, Il am hit again,
when he fell forward on his face. The Fede
rails rushed in and rudely pushed Mrs. Bake1