Sacrifice of the Healers
During the Civil War, many soldiers on both sides lost their lives, not just from bullet wounds or muskets, but also from illness and disease. This included medical staff who were sometimes unable to heal others or themselves. This is the story of one such man.
Rollin Thaddeus Baker resided in Andover, New York, and graduated from the University of New York School of Medicine in 1862. On 5 September 1863, he mustered into the 12th NY Cavalry as an assistant surgeon and served his enlistment in eastern North Carolina.
The camp of the 12th Cavalry, Camp Palmer, was situated on the outskirts of New Bern when Confederate General George Pickett with over 10,000 men, launched a surprise attack on February 1, 1864, with a plan to retake New Bern. The Union Army had occupied New Bern since March 1862. Dr. Baker was reported captured as follows:
"Yesterday afternoon, while the skirmishing was going on in the broad clearing between Fort Totten and the woods, and all in sight of the… fort, Dr. Baker, who has been attending the small-pox hospitals, started out, with three ambulances and a flag of truce, to bring into town the inmates of the white small-pox hospital about a mile in front of the breastworks. He was seen parleying with the enemy for some time, when they took him prisoner, with his ambulances, drivers, and teams..." (written by Dr. Page of the Sanitary Commission)
Dr. Baker was sent along with other prisoners to Libby prison in Richmond, Virginia, regarded as second only in notoriety to Andersonville Prison in Georgia. This resulted in a war of words between General Pickett and Union General Innis Palmer. Palmer demanded that Dr. Baker be returned as he had been conducting a humanitarian mission under a flag of truce. Pickett responded that “they came with no flag of truce and therefore could not be recognized; in addition, the surgeon, by his inquiries, conversation, and observations, had learned too much to render his return desirable.” Pickett did agree to forward Palmer’s communication to the proper authorities in Richmond. Usually exchanges of doctors took place quickly. Both sides realized that doctors treated all soldiers, so it was important to send them back to their side with haste. An article in the local newspaper, the Richmond Whig, dated 27 Feb1864, reported that Dr. Baker was being sent north by a flag of truce boat. He was part of a special exchange and parole. It is unclear when Dr. Baker returned to his unit or resumed his duties.
Dr. Baker was hospitalized at the General Hospital at Morehead City from 30 April- 31 Aug 1864. That summer through winter, an epidemic of yellow fever killed hundreds of soldiers and civilians, including Dr. Baker who died at Camp Palmer on October 19, 1864.
Dr. Baker’s commanding officer informed his wife, Mrs. Ellen Baker, of her husband’s death and explained that he had been taken ill with a fever, failed rapidly, became unconscious and died at Camp Palmer. This officer also wrote, “In the death of Dr. Baker, … the Regiment has lost a faithful officer and an accomplished surgeon. He was very attentive to his duties and had the confidence of all the officers and men with whom he associated.”
In two years of War, the regiment lost 222 men. Three of the unit’s officers and 36 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded in battle, and five officers and 178 enlisted men died of “disease and other causes.” Another 85 enlisted men died in Southern prisons.
Dr. Rollin T. Baker was buried at New Bern National Cemetery. A cenotaph in his honor is located at Hillside Cemetery, Allegheny, New York.