{⋆★⋆} BG Baker, Laurence S.

Laurence Simmons Baker Sr.

Born: May 15, 1830
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Birth Place: Cole's Hill Plantation, Gates County, North Carolina

Father: Dr. John Burgess “Jake” Baker 1785 – 1838
(Buried: Cole’s Hill Plantation, Baker Family Cemetery, Gatesville, North Carolina)​

Mother: Mary Wynns Gregory 1787 – 1855
(Buried: Cole’s Hill Plantation, Baker Family Cemetery, Gatesville, North Carolina)​

Wife: Elizabeth Earl Henderson 1836 – 1919
(Buried: Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, Virginia)​

Children:

William Tilford Baker 1856 – 1889​
(Buried: Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, Virginia)​
Alexander H. Baker 1857 – 1928​
(Buried: Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, Virginia)​
Laurence Simmons Baker Jr. 1859 – 1861​
(Buried: Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, Virginia)​
Elizabeth Earl Baker Hubbell 1863 – 1944​
(Buried: Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)​
Richard Beverly Baker 1866 – 1880​
(Buried: Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, Virginia)​
Stuart Sigourney Baker 1870 – 1956​
(Buried: Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, Virginia)​
Charles Johnson Baker 1875 – 1876​
(Buried: Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, Virginia)​
Philip Barraud Baker 1881 – 1883​
(Buried: Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, Virginia)​

Education:

1851: Graduated from West Point Military Academy (42nd in class)​

Occupation before War:

1851 – 1853: Brevet 2nd Lt. United States Army, Mounted Riflemen​
1853 – 1859: 2nd Lt. United States Army, Mounted Riflemen​
1859 – 1861: 1st Lt. United States Army, Mounted Riflemen​

Civil War Career:

1861 – 1862: Lt. Colonel of 1st North Carolina Cavalry Regiment​
1862 – 1863: Colonel of 1st North Carolina Cavalry Regiment​
1863: Wounded during the Battle of Brandy Station​
1863 – 1865: Brigadier General of Confederate Army, Cavalry​
1863: Wounded in the right arm at Rappahannock River Crossing​
1864 – 1865: Commander of Second Military District, North Carolina​
1864 – 1865: Commander of North Carolina Junior Reserves Brigade​
1865: Received his formal parole at Raleigh, North Carolina​

Occupation after War:

Farmer in Norfolk, Virginia
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Insurance Agent in New Bern, North Carolina​
Station Agent for Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad (29 years)​
Manager of Western Union Telegraph​
Manager of Southern Express Company​
Active in Confederate United Veterans​

Died:
April 10, 1907

Place of Death: Suffolk, Virginia

Age at time of Death: 76 years old

Cause of Death: Unknown

Burial Place: Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, Virginia

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In early 1865, Baker commanded the Second Military District of the Department of North Carolina, centered on Kinston. At his disposal was the Junior Reserve Brigade (1164 men), John Whitford's State Brigade (1000 men), Joseph B. Starr's 13th North Carolina Artillery Battalion (787 men; cannons unknown) & the 6th NC Cavalry + Company G of the 8th Georgia Cavalry (484 men); total troops under his command (as has been documented here) totaled 3455 men. This force was soon joined by Robert Hoke's Division (4125 men) & the 2nd SC Cavalry for the battle of Wise's Fork, where he took command of the Junior Reserves. After this, he was replaced by Colonel John Nethercutt from Hoke's Division.
 
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