Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/177

 conflict and the question of the sympathies of the new senators was one of dominant importance. No party having a majority in the legislature, a combination of all who were opposed to the proposed movement of the Southern states was effected, and James W. Nesmith, a Union Democrat, and E. D. Baker, a Republican, were elected. This was regarded as a happy solution of an alarming condition. Furthermore both of the Oregon Senators were so perfectly in accord with the National Administration that President Lincoln repeatedly sought their counsel, which was a matter of much significance to Oregon and the Nation at a time when the Union was threatened with disruption.

Oregon Senator Killed at Ball's Bluff. Senator E. D. Baker, of Oregon, was killed in the battle of Ball's Bluff

(October 21, 1861). His death together with the disaster that befell the federal troops in that engagement proved hardly less disheartening to the North than did the defeat at Bull Run. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Senator Baker declined the office of brigadier general, but accepted a colonelcy—retaining his office as U. S. Senator. Attired in the full uniform of a colonel, he dramatically appeared on the floor of the Senate and with sword at his side, made a plea for the Union, and then returned to his regiment. On the evening of the 20th of October, he had a premonition that he would be killed on the following day. He donned a sable suit, rendered "Annie Laurie" on the piano, and discoursed in plaintive mood with some U. S. SENATOR E. D. BAKEB