%images;]> amss-cw101290 Death of Colonel Baker. Killed in battle near Leesburg, Virginia, October 21st, 1861. Air—“California Brothers.” Composed by William Sutherland. [n. p.] [n. d.]: a machine-readable transcription. American Song Sheets. Selected and converted. American Memory, Library of Congress.

Washington, DC, 1999.

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1999/03/29 001
DEATH OF COLONEL BAKER.

Killed in Battle near Leesburg, Virginia, October 21st, 1861.

Composed by WILLIAM SUTHERLAND. Respectfully Dedicated to Dr. JOHN F. KAUFMAN.

AIR.—“California Brothers.”

Our starry flag is at half mast, and the muffled drum beats low, It tells a sad, sad story, a story full of grief and woe— Of the death of a soldier hero, cut down in the prime of life, While fighting for our Country's union, amid the battle's strife.

Brave men are falling, every day; they seem dying by the score, Ellsworth and Lyons are both dead, and now Baker is no more: Noble, loyal, true-hearted man! he never felt afraid; The dashing, brave commander of the California Brigade.

Six balls had pierced his noble breast, aimed by some hostile hands Who had joined the southern traitors, and entered the rebel bands: While pushing a cannon forward to his adopted country's aid, He fell upon the battle-field, while leading his brave brigade.

The gallant Colonel Baker 's dead, and a nation mourns for him, And another murder is added unto the traitors' sin; At Leesburg, in Virginia, after the close of day, Brave Baker fell with a mortal wound, while leading on the fray.

He seemed to forsee his doom before the fatal hour had come, Yet, like a soldier brave, he died, that never the dangers shun,— Peace to his ashes, let him rest, his name shall forever shine, And his deeds be read on history's page until the end of time.

Yes, Baker's dead; his battles o'er, he fell, like a soldier brave, Fighting in the struggle our country's banner for to save,— Bury him beneath the sod, raise a monument to his name, And let the nation ring throughout with Colonel Baker's fame.

How many brave men have been killed since secession raised her head! How many homes left desolate, and how much blood's been shed! We love our Union, 'tis true, and suffer much to save our flag— God grant our army victory! may their courage never lag.