Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 4.djvu/316

294 prevented, and he was assigned by the war department to the responsible command of the Second military district of South Carolina, in which capacity he had the duties of a major-general, in charge of the forces at Goldsboro, Kinston, Wilmington, Plymouth and Weldon, and was particularly intrusted with the protection of the Weldon railroad. Later he was called to confront Sherman s advance in the vicinity of Savannah and Augusta, Ga., and then being recalled to North Carolina by Bragg, he commanded in the final campaign the First brigade of Junior reserves, in Hoke’s division of Hardee’s corps. He surrendered at Raleigh, after the capitulation of Johnston, and then, having spent all his life, so far, in military employment, was confronted by the difficult task of finding a place in civil life in a country ravaged by war. He lived at New Bern for awhile, and near Norfolk, Va., carried on a trucking business, after which he returned to North Carolina, and was engaged in insurance until 1877. At the latter date he was offered the position of agent of the Seaboard Air Line railroad at Suffolk, Va., a position he has since occupied. General Baker is held in warm remembrance by Confederates everywhere, particularly in Virginia and North Carolina, where his bravery and devotion are most intimately known. He maintains a membership in Tom Smith camp, United Confederate Veterans, at Suffolk, and keeps alive his comradeship with the survivors of the great struggle. In 1855 he was married to Elizabeth E., daughter of Dr. Alex. Henderson, of North Carolina, and they have three children living: Alexander Baker, sheriff of Nansemond county, Va.; Stuart A. Baker, of Richmond, and Elizabeth E. Baker.

Brigadier-General Rufus Barringer was born in Cabarrus county, N. C., December 2, 1821. He was of sturdy German stock, a grandson of John Paul Barringer, who was born in Wurtemburg, June 4, 1721, and emi-