The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-04-14
History Of tho Notorious Texss Despera-
10, the Terror OF Three States.

History of tho Notorious Texss Despera-
10, the Terror OF Three States.
The whole Southwest is familiar
with the namo OF Cullen BAker, who
WAS killed in L.fay Texas, by his
father-in.law, u tow week ago. Ho
was one Of tho worst charnc cte,s of this
age. Ills life, taken as whole, do.
lnonstrates with peculiar force tho
weakness Of "frail humanity" and
the tenaeity with which events shape
mans destiny.
lie was the son of an eminent di-
vine of Texas, and his character from
boyhood, to tho fatal hour when grim
visaged war stulked into our land, had
been exceptional.
Whom the shrill trumpet sounded
to arms tho braves Of the South, Oul-
len Baker, fred by true, patriotic
devotion to the laud Of his birth, for
sook the purpose Of civil life and
promptly shouldered his musket in
the ranks side by side with tho young
men who had grown up to manhood
with him. The volcano that had been
smothered in his breast soon sent
forth its lava, and bcfvro the roll of
his company had been called for a
twelve month, Cullen Baker had been
marked as the "terrible riheman," )"
The unmistahlo attributes of despe
rado soon developed themselves in his
character, and many "blue jacket
devils" rs he was wont to denominute
the soldiers of the Federal army, we're
forced to kiss the dust before his un.
erring aim.
When tho Confederate army ground
cd arms and surrendered to the pow.
or Of tho Federal Government, Cullen
Baker declined to accept terms or
abide the conditions, and mounting
his fiery horse-one Of the swiftest
since the days Of Claude Duvals bon.
nio BLACK Bess-he rode away to the
wilds of East Texas, proclaiming him
self tho last survivor of tho Lost
Cause, would never surrender until
tho Confederacy was fully established
aud it's authority recognized by all
tho powers Of the earth.
Ho soon achieved considerable
notoriety in Texas, for his intense
animusity against every thing sayoring
Of "Yaukeeism." During the year
lie committed several M murders, his
victims invariably being eithor nc.
groes, Federal soldiers, or noisy "Uni-
on meu."
In tho fall Of 1865 a reward of ono
thousand dollars was offered by Fedo-
raj military authorities Of Texas for
bis head. Scouting parties we're sent
out i'll all directions of the COUNTRY to
catch him. He warned the citizens
thnt if any Of them dared to initiate
% those who sought to capture him,
anything i'll reference to his move
ments, he would visit upon them the
most terrible punishment. So we'll
tlcy knew the man no knowledge Of
the stopping places of Cullen Baker
could be obtained to enable them to
tell, with any degree of $ accuracy,
where be could be found. Is =
So terrific did he become, that the
military authorities raised the reward
offered for his head from one thousand
'pten thousand dolare. Whila Rid.
>ng along the road on one occasion, he
observed the proclamation Offering
Ten thousand dollars for his head
sticking to a tree. He read it, and.
dismountiUg from his horse, and cool.
ly seating himself by tho tree upon
which he found it, issued counter
proclamation, under his own hand,
uifefed ten thousand dollars for the
lead of rany ono Of the military sat-
raps who were n1anifestibg so much
anxiety about hisg own. lie put his
proclamation on the tree below tho
qsher and 2rodesaWay. .fGhg9 .ss4~
A few days subsequent to this time,
The desire for adventure and danger
induced him to spaysa personal visit,
saaog., to the. commander Of, the post.
atsSaas l2A,-