Baker's election was not well received and caused much criticism, for which there was some foundation. He was not a resident, owned no property, and had scarcely any acquaintance in Oregon.
In going to Washington to take his place in the Senate, he went from Portland to San Francisco, then overland to Springfield, where he called on his old friend, Abraham Lincoln, who at that time was President-elect.
Baker went to Washington, took his office as Senator, made a few speeches which thrilled the country and gave him a national reputation. His service in the Senate was very brief, for he accepted a commission from President Lincoln as Colonel of the Seventy-first Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was killed while leading his men at the battle of Ball's Bluff on September 22, 1861. He was buried in Lone Mountain Cemetery in San Francisco, December 11.
On the same day, memorial services in memory of Senator Baker were held in the Senate chamber at Washington. Abraham Lincoln, some of his secretaries, many friends, and admirers at tended the services. Senators Nesmith of Oregon, Browning of Illinois, McDougal of California, Cowen of Pennsylvania, and Sumner of Massachusetts spoke in memory of their dead colleague.
Abraham Lincoln and Colonel Baker were life-long friends. Many were the causes of that warm friendship. I will name two acts by Lincoln which will show the high regard in which he held his dear friend: Lincoln named one of his sons Edward Baker Lincoln; Baker was selected by Lincoln to introduce him to the people witnessing his first inauguration.
Baker was a man of fine appearance—five feet ten and one half inches in height, weighed 190 pounds, had silver gray hair, black piercing eyes, and a Roman nose.
He was a lawyer, a soldier, a statesman, and an orator. He was in all ways a strong man. In any conflict he was a fighter unafraid. He seemed born with a mastery of words, a rare gift of expression. His sincere thought was devotion to country.
His addresses prove he had the genius of a master in his ability to influence the minds and emotions of men.
