Heroes of The Civil War: Edward Dickinson Baker

Edward Dickerson Baker was born in 1811 and died tragically in 1861. He was one of the most prominent of the early Union casualties in the war. His death seemed all the more heroic because he had refused to exploit his friendship with Lincoln and avoid active duty. As a young lawyer in Springfield, Illinois, Baker had known both Stephen Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

In 1844, Baker bested Lincoln in a contest for the Whig Party’s nomination for Representative. Baker moved on to the West coast and was elected Senator from Oregon in 1860, and returned to the East in a time of crisis, he soon found himself becoming one of Lincoln’s personal advisers.

Baker became a captain and commanded a regiment but was able to retain his Senate while in his uniform. He refused the rank of brigadier general, and while leading his brigade into action at Ball’s Bluff on October 22, 1861 he was killed in action

Other Articles In This Series.

Heroes of The Civil War: Charles Francis Adams

Heroes of The Civil War: Turner Ashby