Evening journal., 1912-08-01
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Story Of the Civil Wars
First Very Prominent
Victim
By Holland

Colonel Edward Dickinson Baker,
of English birth. spprenticed to
trade at Philadelphia when a lad,
self-tsught in the law, an intimate
friend Of Abraham Lincoln when both
we're practicing law al Springfield,
Ill. esteemed by many the most brill
liant orator IN that state and perhaps
in the land. member of Congress
when only thirty-hve years of age. a
soldier in the Mexican war. having
resigned his sest in Congress 10 fight,
reelected to Congress from Illinois,
with Thomas Starr King, the
leader of the Union forces of Cali
torni8. United States Senator from
Oregon In 1881, and a victim of the
ambuscade AZ Balls Bluff, Virginia,
in 1861, is now regarded az a figure
Of heroic intellectual and moral force
Colonel Baker had been a member
Of the Senate only a few weeks when
the shot that was fred at Fort Sum
ter began the war He went al once
10 the White House and in q most
dramatic meeting with President Lin
coin offered his services. He was
authorized by President Lincoln and
the War Department 10 recruit a re-
giment
1T shall be called the California
regiment he said.
But you cannot recruit a regiment
in California in time for any effective
service" said the Secretary of War
Simon Cameron.
I do not intend 10 recruit it from
California, It is my purpose to re-
oruit it in New York and Philadel-
phia."
You will be officially authorized
to recruit that regiment" the Secre-
tary OF War replied, and a few DAYS
later II was announced from The At
lantic TO the Rocky Mountains that the
Senator from Oregon, Colonel Baker.
was recruiting regiment in New
York and Philadelphia which he pro-
posed to lead into action No other
act of this kind, excepting the lead
ing Of his Rhode Island troops TO the
front by Governor William Sprague,
caused the excitement and enthus-
iasm which this did
While Colonel Paker was at Fhiis-
delphia receiving recruits, he re-
ceived a message one day from a
wealthy merchant OF Galena. H.,
Franklin Ryan by name. II was
worded substantially as follows
II shall never forget your leader
ship and your oratory in the political
campaign Of 1s4S helped to re-
elect you to Congress. 7 was ap-
pointed when you declined second
reelection because you had deter
mined TO 20 10 California. 7 there
fore offer 10 raise a company for
YOUR regiment, company Of one
hundred men. mostly from the
GaleDa district 7 viii equip them,
so far as possible. but have no
arms. 7 will pay the transportation
Of this company 10 Philadelphia in
the hope that YOU will incorporate
II In your California regiment"
None of the experiences Colonel
Baker met with in organizing this re-
Eiment touched him SO deeply as did
this proffer Of company NJ Illinois
men. 10 be raised and equipped. OK
cepting as 10 arms. and transported
10 Philadelphia At the expense Of one
man. who was willing 10 do al this
because he remembered Colonel
Raker as speaker and as a patriot
The company was raised and became
p part of Colonel Bakers regiment
II shared with him the indescribable
periis and trsgedias Of the ambus-
cade At Balls Bluff.
This incident in Colonel Bakers
career. all of the details Of which
have never heretofore been published
reveals the great moral influence
and personal power which the great
Senator from Oregon and the first
very prominent victim OF the civil
war exerted. qualities which. with his
mastery gift of oratory. explain his
brilliant career
fCopvright. 1912. by e. J. Edwards.
All rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will fell of
The Rand Concerts that Weakened
Civil War Animosities