The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-04-26
BAKERS DEATH

little ridge, advanced and engaged the Fed
erals a few minutes after l. L. NJ. Sharp
muskctry firing ensued and continued dur
ing the next two hours. Here was the
fatal mistake Of the dav on the Federal side.
In the longrangc duello the Confedcrates
had all the advantage, So thin was their
line that nearly every man could have the
shelter of tree or stump; whereas their
own shots could hardly miss the dense line
of blue coats. The Virginians and Missis-
sippiaps being accustomed to the rifle, most
Of them cid hunters, rarely missed their
man. Climbing into the tops of trees,
creeping through the tall grass, or con-
cealcd in the gullies, they piled their wea-
pons With murderous havoc, especially
among the Federal officers. 1t was very
poor management to allow this to 90 on
Had Baker ordered a couple of regiments
to sweep the woods he would have cleared
his path Of all these death singing hornets
and marched into Lcesburg. The Federal
position at this time was upon the plateau
of the buff, some six hundred yards in front
Of the river, where there was cleared field
of ten or twelve acres, with shallow ra-
vine or hollow, running through the middle
of it. The artillery was planted to sweep
this clearing in front, while the fanks were
measurably protected by series of steep
little hills and rocky ravincs, all overgrown
with scrubby, stuntcd pines
BY 4 p. NJ. the last of the Federal troops
had crossed and were drawn up in horse
shoe shape, with the point of the shoe front
ing the ten acre cleared lot, 600 yards from
the river bluff. But the loss of officers had
loI tIn nr 90 ~
force. Lieutenant Colonel Wistar, of the
First California, had been killed and his
regiment much shattered. Furthermore, the
Contcdcratcs had been reinforced by the re.
maindcr Of the Seventeenth Mississippi,
perhaps 600 muskcts, and the Eighteenth
Mississippi was within one mile, advancing
rapidly. Per contra, the Virginia regiment
had exhausted its ammunition, and no one
knew where the wagon trains could be
found war was new business at that date.
Men could be seen crawling about, search
ing tho boxes of the dead or borrowing cart
| ridges of their comradcs-to get one more
shot. Col. IIunton dispatched his Adju.
tant to say to Gen. Evans: "My powder
is out what shall l do ?" "Fix bayonets
and run 'cm into the river !" quoth "Old
Shanks" (his regular army souJrigucD, who
had taken Il liquid reinforcement, cquiva-
lent to 10000 men. 1t was tiLo for some
decisive measure, for Col. Baker had Or
dcred his right wing to advance and flank
the little ridge whence came the rebel bull
lets,
Fortunately for the Confedcrates, at the
moment this movement began, there was
heard the pattering footsteps and jingling
doublc.quicking through the brush then 4
wild, tsrror-striking yell; then the stimuli
tancous crash of 100 muskets, each hurl-
ing its lcadcn contents along the Federal
left and centre. The effect was electric
The roar of this sudden, binding, raking
vollcy was like the crack Of doom to the
already dcmoralizcd Fcdcras, most of whom
were under fire for the first time! A strange
report rang along the lines that General Joe
Johnston, with 10000 fresh men, had Just
arrived. Colonel Baker, himself, remarked
to an aide that he had seen Johnston,
mounted on white horse, riding in advance
of his troops, bcckoning with his hand for
them to advance. Baker, Colonel Cogswcll,
Major Harvey and others were at the time
working the battery, which had been dcscr-
SSu o1 ouNC ouC VI tWO LCtuS
plainly exposed to the deadly fire of the
concealed sharp-shootcrs. The rifed g.
FOUNDER could not be used. Seeing that
the crisis was come--the Confcderates as
suming the offensive and closing upon him
from three sides, with the river at his back
Gen. Baker, whose only fault was mex
perionce, turned to the bayonet as the last
feeble hope. Calling to the nearest battal-
ions, appealing to their State pride, he beg
ged, ordered, entreated them to advance, to
charge His voice, ringing above the muir
derous crack of the rifle, could be heard
even in the Confederate ranks, urging, i'm
ploring his men to charge and save the day
and themselves. Thus melted they began
to move, but in that weak, wavering irreso.
lution-a sure precursor of failure. Baker
gallopcd to lead them, but was instantly dis
mounted, the vollcy which slew his superb
stccd wounding him also. But without
pausing he gallantly rushed forward and
was at the head of his men-the place for
brave general to die, if fall he must
when beardess youth emptied five barrels
Of his revolver into him at twenty paccs-
Four of the balls took eject, the first pass.
ing through his brain.--R. A. SuoTwELL
in Philadelphia Times