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Soon after reaching Little Rock where he was stationed he began to "play out" as the soldiers expressed it. He paid little attention to rules and regulations, for when he wished to leave the command he mounted his horse and rode away in the presence of his officers. While on his way home during one of these trips he overtook some immigrants in Sevier County and saw a Negro woman on one of the wagons whose looks he disliked. He cooly drew his gun, aimed and shot the poor creature dead. When he reached home he celebrated his arrival by looking up and killing a Negro boy who at some former time had offended him.
In 1864 the authorities determined to hunt down several Arkansas and Texas deserters who were reported hiding out in the Sulphur River swamps. So vigorous were their pursuits, that Baker took refuge inside the Federal lines at Little Rock, and represented himself as a persecuted loyal Union man. He took the oath of allegiance, and got employment as overseer of a camp of Negro refugees. His job did not last long for he became offended at one of the Negroes under his care, and without consideration, drew his six shooter and killed the man. Knowing he would be in trouble if he remained there, Baker took advantage of the first opportunity to leave, which was between dark and daylight. He went directly to his uncle's in Perry County.
In Perry and surrounding counties he found two separate organizations, the Independent Rangers who were supposed to be irregular Confederate troops and the Mountain Boomers, who were Union guerrillas. In reality both groups were foe of any man who had propery of value that might be pilfered. The two bands had created a reign of terror in the hills-robbing, burning, and murdering indiscriminately.
- Baker joined the Rangers. When they clashed with the Boomers the latter
was usually defeated. Finally the Boomers were driven from that section of
the state. The area was then at the mercy of the bushwhacking Rangers.
