Honoring Oregon's United States Senator Edward Dickinson Baker and the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Ball's Bluff

Read more about Edward Dickinson Baker in Randy Fletcher's "Hidden History of Civil War Oregon.

• February 24, 2012 - Salem, OR. Inaugural celebration of Edward Dickinson Baker Day at the Oregon State Legislature. During the historic first regular session of the Oregon State Legislature in an even-numbered year, comes another first-- the inaugural Edward Dickinson Baker Day in Oregon. Endorsed by the Oregon Capitol Foundation, this long-awaited celebration is being marked with a special ceremony in Salem at the opening of the day's legislative session. The Oregon Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, along with the Oregon Sons of Union Veterans Reserve have put together a special program at the state capitol. PART ONE: starting with the soul-stirring "Presenting of the colors" by the uniformed branch of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Edward D. Baker Camp to honor Oregon's United States Senator and Civil War military leader who died on Oct 21, 1861 at the Battle of Ball's Bluff near Leesburg, Virginia. 10:00am in the Senate Chambers.
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• Edward Dickinson Baker Day PART TWO: From 12:30pm-2:00pm, Free Civil War 150th Guided Tours at the Oregon State Capitol. Volunteers from the Oregon Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission will gather at the Oregon Veterans Medal of Honor Memorial on the Capitol grounds to give guided tours and tell the life stories of the recipients to visiting tourists about the thirteen Oregon men of valor awarded the Medal of Honor, and of the twelve MOH recipients with an Oregon connection whose names are listed on the 14th pillar, including four MOH holders from the Civil War and one recipient who served in the Civil War prior to being awarded his medal for valor displayed beyond the call to duty during the Indian campaign. The bill creating the Army's Medal of Honor was signed into law in July 1862 in the midst of the Civil War. Although proposed only for the Civil War, Congress made the medal permanent in 1863, and since then, more than 3400 men and one woman have been awarded the medal. Meet at the seven granite pillars surrounding the Oregon state flag pole on the west side of the Oregon State Capitol building. 12:30pm.

 

April 14-15, 2012 - Baker, OR:Oregon Sons of Union Veterans, Baker Camp banquet in Baker City, Oregon.

Oregon US Senator and Brigadier General Edward Dickinson Baker 

February 24, 1811 -  October 21, 1861