El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-01
Chased Victoria Into Mexi.
co and Served as Ranger
and Soldier Here.

I Col George Wythe Baylor, n pioneer
OF Texas. with a record in the Civil war
and as an Indian fighter in the early
days. is dead at San Antonio, aged SO
years.
Col. Baylor is well known in FL Paso,
where he lived for many years before
going to Guadalajara, which was his
home for some time prior to the Madero
revolution. While living in El Paso
and after he went to Mexico, he was a
I frequent contributor of early day rem
! iniscences Of the border TO The FL PasO
Herald.
Colonel Baylor came to Texas as a
mere boy in 1S4a A six weeks cam
paign against Comanches just prior to
his enlistment in the southern army
was the first extended service which
young Baylor saw. On that occasion ne
was leader Of a company of 80 from
tiersmen, which indicates that from the
beginning his powers Of leadership
were recognized. lie was sworn in as
first Lieutenant of Capt. Hammers COM
pany in San Antonio in May, 1851. His
brother, John r. Baylor, was lieuten-
ant colonel Of the regiment He went
with his company to Fort Clark, and
from there went to FL Paso as his
brothers adjutant.
Served at FL PasO.
Shortly after his arrival in EI Paso
cidents which marked the Civil war as
one OF the most tragic in all history.
The first regiment Of the union army
they were called upon to fight was that
to which his father had been attached
during his lifetime. the Seventh infan-
try, and he and his brother had reia-
tives and large number OF
friends in it's ranks Duty is duty. how
ever and neither side flinched. Though
there were $50 men in the union forces
and a little over 900 in those Of the
Confederates, after short struggle the
entire union regiment was captured.
Sees Johnston Die.
From this time Gel. BaylOr's ad-
vancement I'm rank was rapid. After be-
ing stationed for short time at san
Augustine Springs. in New Mexico NOW
CoXs ranch). he received an appoint
ment from Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston
as his chief aide-de-camp and went to
join Gen. Johnston's staff at Bowling
Green, Ky. He remained on Gen. John
ston's staff until the latter was killed
at Shiloh, and his was the last face
that the gallant Confederate leader saw
on earth Col. Baylor regards it as one
OF the greatest honors Of his career that
it was his hands that held the head OF
Gen. Johnston during his last moments,
Is Made Colonel.
After Gen, JohnstOn's death Jefferson
Davis promoted Baylor to the rank Of
major, with authority to raise battal-
ion OF Texas rangers for service in the
southern cause. The battalion was later
Increased to a regiment and Baylors
rank raised to that OF colonel by presi-
dent Davis's order. While tie regiment
was never raised, because OF the COM
ing Of the close of the bloody struggle,
Col. Baylor retained his rank, and il
was a dispute over this that led to what
Col Baylor regarded as the saddest
event of his life. j viii be remembered
by old timers that it was Col. Baylors
misfortune to kill Gen. John a. Whar-
ton during a quarrel. and that he was
tried three times before he was finally
acquitted after the war. Col. Baylor
declared that the whole truth about this
sad affair has never been told.
Soon after the civil war Col. Baylor
was commissioned by o. NJ. Roberts.
known as "Old Alcalde." at that time
governor OF Texas, as second lieutenant
in company G (Harrington'S company,
Texas rangers. This was just after
Mexicans had murdered a number Of
Americans at san ElizariO. FL Paso
county. and there was much excitement
along the border Soon after Col. Bay
Tor Joined the rangers at FL PasO the