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Col Robert William Baylor Sr.

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Col Robert William Baylor Sr. Veteran

Birth
Virginia, USA
Death
2 May 1883 (aged 69)
Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA
Burial
Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
Son of Richard Gregory Baylor and Ann Tilden Garnett.

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Commissioned an officer in Company Baylor's, Virginia 7th Cavalry Regiment on 25 Sep 1861. Mustered out on 15 Jun 1862. Commissioned an officer in Company B, Virginia 12th Cavalry Regiment on 15 Jun 1862.

Source: the U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865.

**Note** Contributor BigFrench has informed me that, while "mustered out" is the terminology used by the above source, "transferred, with his company, into the 12th Virginia Cavalry Regiment as Company B" is a more accurate description, as the 7th Cavalry had become entirely too large (25 companies), and was downsized to ten, which brought about the transfer of his company to the 12th. Thank you, BigFrench!

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Led the Virginia Militia against John Brown at Harpers Ferry in 1859. (Source: House Divided, Dickinson College)

Father of Robert W. Jr., Richard C., George Baylor.

Information found on wvgenweb.org

CAPTAIN ROBERT W. BAYLOR, of Charleston, Jefferson county, was conspicuous among the strong and energetic spirits who served as rallying points of patriotism in northwestern Virginia in 1861. He held the rank of colonel of Virginia troops at the outbreak of the war, but not being continued in that position at the organization, raised a company of young men in Jefferson county, which was subsequently distinguished in the Confederate service as Company B of the Twelfth Virginia cavalry. It was a notable company in membership, many famous families of Virginia being represented, and a considerable number of them are now prominent in civil life, perhaps the most conspicuous being William L. Wilson, ex-postmaster-general and president of Washington-Lee university, and Charles Broadway Rouss, of New York. This company, known as the Baylor light horse, entered the service in Ashby's cavalry, but was not long under the command of its organizer, as he was severely wounded in an engagement at McGaheysville, April 27, 1862, and taken prisoner. He was subsequently tried by Federal court martial and condemned to be executed, on account of his activity in the Southern cause; but the sentence was set aside by General Kelly, with the approval of Secretary Stanton. He was held a prisoner until late in 1864, but when exchanged his wound still disabled him. He survived until 1883. He was of an old Virginian family, descended from John Baylor, who immigrated from England about 1694. His father, Richard Baylor, served as a private in the Baylor Dragoons, Continental army, commanded by his cousin, Col. George Baylor. Three sons of Capt. Robert W. Baylor also served in his cavalry company: Richard C., who was mentioned by General McClellan for bravery in going through the lines at Auburn to warn General Lee of the critical situation of General Stuart's command, and was killed at Parker's Store, near Fredericksburg, November 29, 1863; Robert W., who was killed at Charlestown, November 29, 1864; and George, now a prominent attorney at Charlestown, who was the brilliant leader of the company after his father's capture. Capt. George Baylor, born in Jefferson county in 1843, was educated at Dickinson college, Carlisle, Pa., and graduated in 1860, and subsequently was an instructor in the Episcopal high school in Fauquier county until April, 1861, when he enlisted in Company G of the Second Virginia infantry. He served with the Stonewall brigade during the first year of the war, took part in the battle of Manassas, and received excellent training as a soldier under his famous commander. In the spring of 1862 he joined the Baylor Light Horse, of which he was elected second lieutenant, and with this company, which formed part of the command of Turner Ashby, participated in the Valley campaign of 1862, fighting at Kernstown, Winchester, Middletown, Cross Keys, and Port Republic. After Jackson moved to the Chickahominy, his company was left in the valley, where it engaged in frequent raids upon the Federal outposts, aiding materially in causing the enemy to fall back to Harper's Ferry. They then participated in the Second Manassas campaign, the capture of Harper's Ferry, and the battle of Sharpsburg. In a fight near Charlestown he received a wound in the leg. Lieutenant Baylor was in command of his company from June, 1862, throughout its subsequent campaigns and engagements. In February, 1863, during a raid in Jefferson county, he was captured by the Fourteenth Pennsylvania regiment, and sent to Fort McHenry. Attempting to escape he was confined two weeks in a cell, and then sent to Fort Delaware, but was so fortunate as to be one of twenty officers who were exchanged in April, the only exchange of that year. Returning to his command, now Company B of the Twelfth Virginia cavalry, W. E. Jones' brigade, Stuart's cavalry corps, he participated in the operations of 1863, including the engagements at Brandy Station, Oakland and Altamont, Md.; Mine Run, Upperville, Warrenton Springs, Auburn, Bristoe Station, Parker's Store and Little Baltimore. At Warrenton Springs the Twelfth regiment being under command of Colonel Funsten, Lieutenant Baylor held the front and was ordered to charge the bridge, held by the Federals, in the dusk of the evening. He led his men in columns of four along a narrow causeway, in the face of a sharp fire, until at the abutment he found that the planks had been removed from the bridge, and he must retrace his steps and try the ford. Without the slightest confusion the command obeyed the order to right about wheel, and in a moment it was plunging through the ford, amid the wild huzzas of the Confederate infantry, and dashing up the hill, soon cleared the enemy from their rifle-pits and won a passage for the remainder of the Confederate force. For this brilliant performance Lieutenant Baylor and his troop enjoyed the unique distinction of receiving a furlough of ten days by order of General Lee. He subsequently took part in the West Virginia raids under Jones and Rosser, and at Medley, near New Creek, in January, 1864, received a wound in the shoulder which compelled his retirement until May, when he rejoined his command. Joining General Lee, he was in the advance on the morning of May 5th, in the Wilderness, his brigade opening the ball by the defeat of Wilson's Federal division of cavalry near Todd's Tavern, and subsequently fought at Hawe's Shop, Ashland (where he led the charge), Sappony Church, Trevilian's, Charles City Court House (where he was slightly wounded), Reams' Station, and the famous cattle raid. Then being ordered with his brigade to the Shenandoah valley, he was engaged at Brock's Gap, Tom's Brook, Cedar Creek and Midd1etown. On November 22d, while on a reconnoissance with six men, he stampeded at night a Federal outpost, at Allstadt's Lane, and captured thirteen men and twice as many horses. He was then detached with his company to operate in the lower valley, and on the night of November 29th attacked the camp of the Twelfth Pennsylvania cavalry at Charlestown, killing and wounding eleven of the enemy, and capturing twenty-seven prisoners and thirty-seven horses. In a subsequent fight near White Post a Federal squadron in pursuit of him suffered defeat and a similar loss. On April 5, 1865, he joined the command of Colonel Mosby, as captain of Company H, and was engaged on the same day at Millville, and on April 10th at Fairfax Station. He surrendered at Winchester, May 8, 1865, and then returned to civil life. He was graduated in law at Washington-Lee university in 1867, and after practicing at Kansas City, Mo., five years, returned to Charlestown. Here he formed a partnership with William L. Wilson, which continued until 1881, when Mr. Wilson was elected president of the West Virginia university. During the same period he held for four years the office of prosecuting attorney for his county. Since then he has continued in the practice of law, and is now counsel of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, and distinguished in his profession.
Son of Richard Gregory Baylor and Ann Tilden Garnett.

==============================

Commissioned an officer in Company Baylor's, Virginia 7th Cavalry Regiment on 25 Sep 1861. Mustered out on 15 Jun 1862. Commissioned an officer in Company B, Virginia 12th Cavalry Regiment on 15 Jun 1862.

Source: the U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865.

**Note** Contributor BigFrench has informed me that, while "mustered out" is the terminology used by the above source, "transferred, with his company, into the 12th Virginia Cavalry Regiment as Company B" is a more accurate description, as the 7th Cavalry had become entirely too large (25 companies), and was downsized to ten, which brought about the transfer of his company to the 12th. Thank you, BigFrench!

=============================

Led the Virginia Militia against John Brown at Harpers Ferry in 1859. (Source: House Divided, Dickinson College)

Father of Robert W. Jr., Richard C., George Baylor.

Information found on wvgenweb.org

CAPTAIN ROBERT W. BAYLOR, of Charleston, Jefferson county, was conspicuous among the strong and energetic spirits who served as rallying points of patriotism in northwestern Virginia in 1861. He held the rank of colonel of Virginia troops at the outbreak of the war, but not being continued in that position at the organization, raised a company of young men in Jefferson county, which was subsequently distinguished in the Confederate service as Company B of the Twelfth Virginia cavalry. It was a notable company in membership, many famous families of Virginia being represented, and a considerable number of them are now prominent in civil life, perhaps the most conspicuous being William L. Wilson, ex-postmaster-general and president of Washington-Lee university, and Charles Broadway Rouss, of New York. This company, known as the Baylor light horse, entered the service in Ashby's cavalry, but was not long under the command of its organizer, as he was severely wounded in an engagement at McGaheysville, April 27, 1862, and taken prisoner. He was subsequently tried by Federal court martial and condemned to be executed, on account of his activity in the Southern cause; but the sentence was set aside by General Kelly, with the approval of Secretary Stanton. He was held a prisoner until late in 1864, but when exchanged his wound still disabled him. He survived until 1883. He was of an old Virginian family, descended from John Baylor, who immigrated from England about 1694. His father, Richard Baylor, served as a private in the Baylor Dragoons, Continental army, commanded by his cousin, Col. George Baylor. Three sons of Capt. Robert W. Baylor also served in his cavalry company: Richard C., who was mentioned by General McClellan for bravery in going through the lines at Auburn to warn General Lee of the critical situation of General Stuart's command, and was killed at Parker's Store, near Fredericksburg, November 29, 1863; Robert W., who was killed at Charlestown, November 29, 1864; and George, now a prominent attorney at Charlestown, who was the brilliant leader of the company after his father's capture. Capt. George Baylor, born in Jefferson county in 1843, was educated at Dickinson college, Carlisle, Pa., and graduated in 1860, and subsequently was an instructor in the Episcopal high school in Fauquier county until April, 1861, when he enlisted in Company G of the Second Virginia infantry. He served with the Stonewall brigade during the first year of the war, took part in the battle of Manassas, and received excellent training as a soldier under his famous commander. In the spring of 1862 he joined the Baylor Light Horse, of which he was elected second lieutenant, and with this company, which formed part of the command of Turner Ashby, participated in the Valley campaign of 1862, fighting at Kernstown, Winchester, Middletown, Cross Keys, and Port Republic. After Jackson moved to the Chickahominy, his company was left in the valley, where it engaged in frequent raids upon the Federal outposts, aiding materially in causing the enemy to fall back to Harper's Ferry. They then participated in the Second Manassas campaign, the capture of Harper's Ferry, and the battle of Sharpsburg. In a fight near Charlestown he received a wound in the leg. Lieutenant Baylor was in command of his company from June, 1862, throughout its subsequent campaigns and engagements. In February, 1863, during a raid in Jefferson county, he was captured by the Fourteenth Pennsylvania regiment, and sent to Fort McHenry. Attempting to escape he was confined two weeks in a cell, and then sent to Fort Delaware, but was so fortunate as to be one of twenty officers who were exchanged in April, the only exchange of that year. Returning to his command, now Company B of the Twelfth Virginia cavalry, W. E. Jones' brigade, Stuart's cavalry corps, he participated in the operations of 1863, including the engagements at Brandy Station, Oakland and Altamont, Md.; Mine Run, Upperville, Warrenton Springs, Auburn, Bristoe Station, Parker's Store and Little Baltimore. At Warrenton Springs the Twelfth regiment being under command of Colonel Funsten, Lieutenant Baylor held the front and was ordered to charge the bridge, held by the Federals, in the dusk of the evening. He led his men in columns of four along a narrow causeway, in the face of a sharp fire, until at the abutment he found that the planks had been removed from the bridge, and he must retrace his steps and try the ford. Without the slightest confusion the command obeyed the order to right about wheel, and in a moment it was plunging through the ford, amid the wild huzzas of the Confederate infantry, and dashing up the hill, soon cleared the enemy from their rifle-pits and won a passage for the remainder of the Confederate force. For this brilliant performance Lieutenant Baylor and his troop enjoyed the unique distinction of receiving a furlough of ten days by order of General Lee. He subsequently took part in the West Virginia raids under Jones and Rosser, and at Medley, near New Creek, in January, 1864, received a wound in the shoulder which compelled his retirement until May, when he rejoined his command. Joining General Lee, he was in the advance on the morning of May 5th, in the Wilderness, his brigade opening the ball by the defeat of Wilson's Federal division of cavalry near Todd's Tavern, and subsequently fought at Hawe's Shop, Ashland (where he led the charge), Sappony Church, Trevilian's, Charles City Court House (where he was slightly wounded), Reams' Station, and the famous cattle raid. Then being ordered with his brigade to the Shenandoah valley, he was engaged at Brock's Gap, Tom's Brook, Cedar Creek and Midd1etown. On November 22d, while on a reconnoissance with six men, he stampeded at night a Federal outpost, at Allstadt's Lane, and captured thirteen men and twice as many horses. He was then detached with his company to operate in the lower valley, and on the night of November 29th attacked the camp of the Twelfth Pennsylvania cavalry at Charlestown, killing and wounding eleven of the enemy, and capturing twenty-seven prisoners and thirty-seven horses. In a subsequent fight near White Post a Federal squadron in pursuit of him suffered defeat and a similar loss. On April 5, 1865, he joined the command of Colonel Mosby, as captain of Company H, and was engaged on the same day at Millville, and on April 10th at Fairfax Station. He surrendered at Winchester, May 8, 1865, and then returned to civil life. He was graduated in law at Washington-Lee university in 1867, and after practicing at Kansas City, Mo., five years, returned to Charlestown. Here he formed a partnership with William L. Wilson, which continued until 1881, when Mr. Wilson was elected president of the West Virginia university. During the same period he held for four years the office of prosecuting attorney for his county. Since then he has continued in the practice of law, and is now counsel of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, and distinguished in his profession.


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