Moseley Baker was an American lawyer, politician, and military officer who served as the speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives and served two terms in the Congress of the Republic of Texas, where he led impeachment proceedings against President Sam Houston.
37 Facts About Moseley Baker
1.
2.
Moseley Baker was named a brigadier general of the Republic of Texas militia.
3.
Moseley Baker moved to Montgomery, Alabama, as a young man.
4.
Moseley Baker was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1829 and was elected speaker of the House.
5.
Moseley Baker soon escaped and made his way to Mexican Texas.
6.
Moseley Baker arrived in San Felipe de Austin with only $1 in his pocket.
7.
Moseley Baker was a private at the first battle, in Gonzales.
8.
When that battle ended, Moseley Baker accompanied the bulk of the army to San Antonio de Bexar, where they commenced a siege of Cos's troops, garrisoned in the Alamo Mission.
9.
Men, including Moseley Baker, left the army to return to their families.
10.
On February 29,1836, Moseley Baker joined the militia newly organized at San Felipe.
11.
Moseley Baker was elected captain of the company, which had about 30 members.
12.
Moseley Baker announced that the Convention of 1836 had declared Texas an independent nation and read the men the Texas Declaration of Independence.
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All of the companies gathered, including Moseley Baker's, were placed into the First Regiment of Infantry, with Edward Burleson in charge.
14.
Two days later, Moseley Baker's men found four survivors from Fannin's regiment wandering the prairie.
15.
Moseley Baker requested reinforcements to hold the San Felipe crossing, and within days had about 120 men under his command.
16.
Moseley Baker informed Houston this ought to be a large enough number to hold the crossing against the Mexican army.
17.
Moseley Baker ordered that the town be burned, saying Houston had ordered it so.
18.
Moses Austin Bryan, nephew of the founder of San Felipe, refused to start the fires, so Moseley Baker personally set a torch to the first home.
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Moseley Baker then sent three men as pickets on the west bank.
20.
Mexican troops built several rafts, but Moseley Baker's men fired enough that Santa Anna decided it was unwise to try to cross at that point.
21.
Moseley Baker called for a vote, and the men voted to retreat.
22.
The infantry was eager to join the fight; Moseley Baker later recounted that "it was with the utmost difficulty that I could prevent my company from rushing on the enemy".
23.
Many Texian soldiers, including Moseley Baker, were angry that Houston had not allowed the rest of the infantry to join the fight.
24.
Moseley Baker began composing a letter on behalf of the army, complaining that Houston had no intention of engaging in battle, and would instead delay until Santa Anna's troops had been reinforced and grossly outnumbered the Texian army.
25.
Moseley Baker's troops, including those who had been standing guard, were given permission to rest.
26.
Moseley Baker was one of only two officers to vote for the pre-dawn hour.
27.
Moseley Baker addressed the men, giving a "rousing, inspirational" speech that referenced the sacrifices both civilians and members of the Texan military had endured.
28.
Moseley Baker was one of the first wounded; First Lieutenant John Borden stepped forward to lead his company.
29.
From October 1836 through June 1837, Moseley Baker served in the first Congress of the Republic of Texas, representing Austin County.
30.
Moseley Baker attempted to impeach Houston, who had been elected President of the new country; the impeachment proceedings failed.
31.
Moseley Baker led a campaign against Indians along the Brazos River.
32.
Moseley Baker ran for a third term, to serve in the Sixth Congress, in 1841, but lost to Archibald Wynns by one vote.
33.
Moseley Baker was reappointed a brigadier general in 1842, following Mexican General Adrian Woll's invasion of Bexar.
34.
Moseley Baker raised a company of men but fell ill and was forced to hand command to Gardiner Smith.
35.
Moseley Baker promoted his version of the religion through his own newspaper, True Evangelist.
36.
Moseley Baker died of yellow fever on November 4,1848, in Houston.
37.
Moseley Baker's body was first laid to rest at Jefferson Davis Cemetery before being moved to the Episcopal Cemetery.