Confederate Civil War Letter of 1st Lieut. Saml. Baker

Confederate Civil War Letter of 1st Lieutenant Samuel Baker, Co. F, 35th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry, 1863

Baker, Samuel. 1st Lieutenant serving with Elijah White's "Comanches," the 35th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry. 4pp, 7.5 x 9.5 in., "HdQrs. White's Cavalry, Camp near Paris." October 12, 1863. Addressed to an unnamed friend.

The 35th Battalion of the Virginia Cavalry was organized in January of 1862 and assigned to a brigade in the Army of the Northern Virginia. Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Elijah C. White (1832-1907), the unit earned the nickname "White's Comanches" because of their spontaneous raids on enemy targets and ululations in battle. At the Battle of Brandy Station, White and his men played a crucial role in deterring a crushing defeat by cutting short the onslaught of Union forces and temporarily capturing an enemy battery. Later at Gettysburg, the 35th Battalion was among the earlier entrants to the town and destroyed key lines of communication and transportation at the nearby Hanover Junction. At the conclusion of the battle, White's men stayed behind to protect Robert E. Lee and his army as they retreated across the Potomac, shielding them from further Federal attacks.

Here, Baker tells his friend of some of his more recent military exploits: "[We] have been scouting night and day with some success. We made a raid last week into Fairfax Co. within 6 miles of Georgetown and brought out twenty-one prisoners and sixty-three horses. Most of them of the best quality. After we got out of the way the enemy followed us with 550 cavalry and drove us to the mountains, at the foot of which they eased their pursuit. . . The Col. is off now with a scout of forty men and you may again hear of the adventures of this bloody 35th Batal." He also shares some information concerning the movements of Union forces, observing that "the whole of Meads [sic] army, with the exception of one corps, has been sent to reinforce Rosecrans & I suppose the great battle of the Miss Valley, which has so long been talked about, is about to be fought. Oh! this is never over, I so much fear. The results for us have always been so unsuccessful."

Baker also devotes a paragraph to a discussion concerning the affections of Alexander C. Grubbs, a lieutenant with the 35th Battalion, for the recipient of his letter. He writes that Grubbs has confided in him that "he though the man that could not live happily with you was not worthy of a wife, and indeed I was forced to agree with him in that particular. . . Lt. Grubbs says he intends to compose & dedicate to [you] one of the finest pieces of Guitar Music that was ever known. You had better be taking lessons upon that instrument and be ready to perform it for him. Poor Fellow." It is unclear from the letter whether or not Grubbs's feelings were reciprocated, but he soon found himself with ample opportunity to reflect on his musical compositions. During the Mine Run Campaign in November of 1863, he was shot in the right arm and hospitalized at Richmond before receiving a series of furloughs in the spring of 1864. In the immediate aftermath of the letter, however, both Grubbs and Baker participated in the Bristoe Campaign, a series of five battles waged in Virginia, resulting in a demoralizing defeat for the Confederates.
Condition Report: Creasing as expected, with toning and some areas of discoloration, spotting, and staining.