George H. Gordon, From Brook Farm to Cedar Mountain

“ [72] operations on the right. This gallant and energetic officer left me about nine A. M., or half-past 9, and galloped off quickly to his command.” And again says Stone: “Messengers from Harrison's Island informed me, soon after the arrival of Colonel Baker, that he was crossing his whole force as rapidly as possible, and that he had caused an additional flat-boat to be rafted from the canal into the river.” ¹

About one o'clock P. M., Colonel Baker made his appearance on the bluff, and inquired for Colonel Lee; to whom, as he was pointed out, he introduced himself as “Colonel Baker.” “Have you reported to take command?” inquired Colonel Lee. “I have,” Colonel Baker replied; and then added, “And I congratulate you, sir, on a battle upon the soil of Virginia.” Colonel Baker then asked as to the whereabouts of Colonel Devens, and was told that he was half a mile or more in front of that position. Asking for a volunteer to communicate with him, a sergeant stepped out, and was sent off with a message directing Colonel Devens to fall back to the bluff. About this time one field-piece drawn by six horses, a piece of a Rhode Island Battery, in charge of Lieutenant Branhall of the Ninth New York Battery, came upon the field. The gun was unlimbered, horses and limber passing to the rear, to the edge of the bluff, a distance of forty or fifty feet. Between twelve and one o'clock the enemy had appeared in some force in front of Deveus, and a sharp skirmish had ensued. Being unsupported, the Colonel had fallen back to a piece of woods about half a mile in front of Lee's position on the bluff, and there he remained unmolested until he fell back, as ordered.

Colonel Baker, dismounting from his horse and hanging