Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-01-26
7ale of Early Days OF War

ing the war saw much of military life
and activity in and about the capitol.
The streets swarmed with evidences
of war. There constantly passed
through the corridors of the capitol
men in military uniform, officers and
privates. We early grew accustomed
to seeing soldiers In the galleries of
the senate. But only once, as recol-
lect 1t, were We brought into vivid per-
sonal relations with the army on the
floor of the senate itself And it was
senator who actually brought US into
this relation with our fighting force
Col. E. D. Baker of Oregon.
Il was member of the senate-hav-
ing been elected thereto for the first
time in 1854-when Baker took his
seat from the young state Of Oregon.
From the day that he made his first
appearance in that body until the day
of his death | took a greater interest
in him than l did in any other sena-
tor. | was first attracted to him by
certain simple dignity of personal
appearance which he possessed, and
soon conceived the opinion, mistaken
to this day, that he was the peer,
physically and in intellectual powers,
of any member of the senate in which
he sat. Naturally my admiration for
him led to a rather close intimacy be-
tween us.
We'll, there came a day, in the late
autumn of 1861, when Senator Baker
startled US all by appearing at his desk
in the service uniform of colonel OF
volunteers. We knew that ne had COM
manded brigade at CerTo Gordo, in
the Mexican war, and because of his
record in that conflict, had been com.
missioned a colonel of volunteer regi-
ment lately raised in the east; but
none of US, apparently, had anticipated
his appearing at his desk in the SEN
ate in uniform. So we were taken
aback and made him the center of I'M
disguised observation. And I must
say it was an impressive sight-a
United States senator, arrayed as for
war, seated quietly at his desk in the
pursuance of his duties as a lawmaker.
''As soon as l conveniently could do
so, l went over to Colonel Bakers side.
liz Adu uOLACSu Tie uuuSudi interest
taken in him by his colleagues, and,
without waiting for me to question
him, smilingly volunteered the infor-
nation that he had received orders to
take his regiment up the Potomac to a
place near Edwards Ferry, prepared
to prevent the crossing of the river by
the enemy. T found l would not have
time tn don uniform of
the chamber he said, and so | came
here arrayed in it. l have a little
business to transact, and then leave
Immediately with my command
For a moment, then, he was
thoughtful I don't know he added,
looking up at me-and his face was as
serene as an Italian sky-'why we are
going. have grave doubts about the
wisdom of the movement. But we are
going. And I am to command
THAT was all, but Immediately the
feeling flashed over me that Colonel
Baker felt he had been called upon to
lead a forlorn hope. The next mo-
ment l found myself thinking that.
though Baker knew it, he was letting
his sense of duty oVershadow his
doubts. and would die in the effort to
execute the orders of his superiors, if
need be. And it was with the feeling
that I probably would never see him
alive again that l. in company with the |
other senators present, babe him good !
by and wished him success. | can see
him now, in memory, as, with a firm
military tread, he went along the |
aisle and through the senate doors |
and out of our gaze.
Two days later. think it was. we |
learned that Colonel Baker had been !
killed. together with majority of his |
command, at Balls Bluff"
Copyright, 1910, by E. ]. Edwards All |
Rights Reserved-)