Page Dedicated
To Lewis Millard Baird
Born Aug. 22, 1795 in NC
Lewis M. Baird, at the age of 67, was taken from his
home in Elk Valley, Tennessee by Confederate Soldiers,
and taken to Salisbury, North Carolina. Oct. 1862.
It was said that he was to have refused freedom
when ask to swear allegiance to the Rebel cause and later
refused to give Jefferson Davis his word of honor not to
support the Union cause. Lewis reply was, he had sons fighting
for the Union and would support them at any opportunity.
Died May 11,1864
in Salisbury Confederate Prison.
Son's in Union Army during the Civil War.
ZEB, FLEM, ANDY, PRYOR, LEWIS
Andrew C. Baird
Died December 30, 1861 Somerset, KY.
Accidental discharge of pistol.
Buried Mill Springs National Cemetery
The following letter was written at the time by a fellow
prisoner of Lewis Baird. The letter was addressed to the late Hon S.C. Baird
Salisbury, N.C.
April 29.1864
To the Sons and Daughters of Lewis M. Baird,
I, as a comrade of your father in prison, deem it
my duty to write to you at this time to let you know his
present condition . He is in the hospital and to all
human appearance must soon be numbered in with those
who have been taken from the evils of this world. There
is no particular disease apparent but old age and
confinement has done it's work.
Having become acquainted with him soon after his
arrest and been with him ever since , he now seems like
father to me. I can truly sympathize with you. We have
slept together and I have been able to obtain many little
necessaries for him . He has stood it very well until
lately. I have often heard him say that he would love to
know how you all were doing and let you know how he
was, but he never got to hear from any of you at home.
I have talked often to the old man upon the subject
of religion . He always expressed himself as being
prepared , which is a great consolation . I assure you
that all that is possible for me to do will be done for
your father . Pray that God in His mercies may spare
him yet to return home . He wishes for me to say if he
does not live to see you in this world that you will
strive to so live as to meet him above where parting and
sorrow are no more.
Very Truly Yours,
Thomas Clayton
This picture is of the Hospital at Salisbury Prison.
In the background the dead being loaded
onto a cart for burial in the trenches.
visit Historic Salisbury, NC click on the flags at top of page.
page by BABW/2000
