Civil War Confederate Army Brigadier General. He taught school in South Carolina and Georgia while he was studying law. After moving to Alabama, he was admitted to the Alabama Bar Association in 1849, began practicing law and was elected to the Alabama constitutional convention. When war seemed inevitable, he enlisted as a private in a local militia, the Eufaula Rifles. Shortly thereafter he was named captain of Company B of the 1st Alabama Infantry regiment. When the Civil War began his company was sent to Pensacola, Florida and late in 1861 to Tennessee. When the 1st Alabama enlistment expired he was named Colonel and commander of the 4th Confederate Infantry Regiment. Following action in New Madrid, Missouri, he was captured at Island #10, an island in the Kentucky bend of the Mississippi River. A few months later he was involved in a prisoner exchange and named Colonel of the 54th Alabama Infantry Regiment. In the Vicksburg campaign, he was wounded at the Battle of Champion's Hill and was promoted to Brigadier General. He was wounded again at the July 1864 Battle of Ezra Church during the Atlanta Campaign, and after recovery his brigade was assigned to the Department of the Gulf near Mobile, Alabama. His brigade rejoined the main Western army in time to take part in the 1865 Carolina campaign. Baker and the remnants of brigade were captured at the Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina on March 19, 1865. By then the war was almost over and upon release returned to his law practice in Alabama. In 1878, he moved his practice to Louisville, Kentucky where he remained until his death. Baker is buried among the wartime Confederate burials, instead of in the veterans' section, because his last wish was to be buried among his soldiers. An empty space was held in his honor among the wartime burials of Confederate POWs who were held in Louisville.
Civil War Confederate Army Brigadier General. He taught school in South Carolina and Georgia while he was studying law. After moving to Alabama, he was admitted to the Alabama Bar Association in 1849, began practicing law and was elected to the Alabama constitutional convention. When war seemed inevitable, he enlisted as a private in a local militia, the Eufaula Rifles. Shortly thereafter he was named captain of Company B of the 1st Alabama Infantry regiment. When the Civil War began his company was sent to Pensacola, Florida and late in 1861 to Tennessee. When the 1st Alabama enlistment expired he was named Colonel and commander of the 4th Confederate Infantry Regiment. Following action in New Madrid, Missouri, he was captured at Island #10, an island in the Kentucky bend of the Mississippi River. A few months later he was involved in a prisoner exchange and named Colonel of the 54th Alabama Infantry Regiment. In the Vicksburg campaign, he was wounded at the Battle of Champion's Hill and was promoted to Brigadier General. He was wounded again at the July 1864 Battle of Ezra Church during the Atlanta Campaign, and after recovery his brigade was assigned to the Department of the Gulf near Mobile, Alabama. His brigade rejoined the main Western army in time to take part in the 1865 Carolina campaign. Baker and the remnants of brigade were captured at the Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina on March 19, 1865. By then the war was almost over and upon release returned to his law practice in Alabama. In 1878, he moved his practice to Louisville, Kentucky where he remained until his death. Baker is buried among the wartime Confederate burials, instead of in the veterans' section, because his last wish was to be buried among his soldiers. An empty space was held in his honor among the wartime burials of Confederate POWs who were held in Louisville.
Bio by: Tom Todd
Inscription
BRIG GEN
ALPHEUS BAKER
54 ALA INF
CSA
MAY 28 1828
OCT 2 1891
Family Members
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