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Jeremiah
Baker was listed as a veteran with Co C, 1st
Northeast Missouri Cavalry and Co D, 9th Missouri
Sharpshooters. He was a military POW, paroled at Shreveport,
La and a survivor of the CSS Kentucky tragedy.
“On
February 9, 1932, at his home in Fresno, Calif., my father,
Jeremiah Baker, answered the Last Roll Call. On a bright
morning, he passed gently over the border. In bed but a few
days, without pain, with his family and friends talking with
him, all was just as he had wished.
“Glad
did he live, and gladly die,
“…From
notes prepared by my father the following is taken: Born on
the 28th of October, 1843, I was twelve years old
when my father moved to Missouri in 1855. He was a
blacksmith, and I worked in his shop until July 25, 1862,
when I joined the Confederate army. I was taken prisoner
that fall and sent to St. Louis, then to Alton, Ill; in
March, 8163, was sent back to St. Louis, and on April 2,
after seven months in prison, I was sent to City Point,
Virginia and exchanged, then went on to Petersburg. From
there a number of us were sent to Parsons’ Brigade,
Missouri troops in Arkansas. At Little Rock, I was put in
Pindall’s Battalion, 9th Confederate
Sharpshooters, and so served to the close of the war. I was
made corporal when the company was reorganized, and
afterwards promoted to Sergeant; was color guard in every
battle I was in. We were paroled on the 9th day
of June, 1865, at Shreveport, La., and started home on the
Old Kentucky, on Red River, but the boat struck a snag and
sank near Shreveport. Many comrades were drowned, and many
Negroes who were going North, I swam ashore and landed in a
cane break. Those who survived were taken back to Shreveport
in a boat, and we again started on our way home.”
Source: Confederate Veteran magazine article by Mrs.
Robert Lee Davis, of Reedly, Calif. reprinted in “The
Bravest of the Brave-Pindall’s 9th Missouri
Battalion of Sharpshooters” by Carolyn M. Bartels;
transcribed by Lisa Perry |
