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Neither age nor sex was spared. Men were tortured and killed and women outraged and murdered by these cut-throats.

Conditions became so intolerable that by October of 1864 many people began leaving the county. Nine men made secret preparations to leave and take their possessions with them. Baker learned about their flight and took a squad and pursued them to the Saline River, reaching the bank just as they were embarking to cross. He hailed their leader and commanded him to surrender. The man refused and at the same time demanded Baker's authority for stopping them. Baker drew his authority from its holster and shot the man dead in the boat. The others then surrendered, and were taken into the woods, placed in line and shot.

This "Massacre on the Saline" as it was locally known and a few other brutish exploits, gained Baker a reputation that placed him at the head of the renegades.

At last the spirit of the people of Perry County was aroused, and they began preparations to wipe out Baker and his gang. Baker's men learned what was being planned and late in the fall of 1864 killed several of the county's best citizens, burned their homes and drove the women and children into the woods. Bakers' gang then took several wagons loaded with valuables and headed for Texas. A large group of citizens pursued the guerrillas and rather than risk a fight the gang abandoned the wagons and fled.

Baker and four of his companions eventually succeeded in reaching his old home in Texas. There his reputation had preceded him, and the people let him know he was not welcome. After a few weeks Baker returned to Perry County.

He partially reorganized his gang during the latter part of the winter and now pretended to be a Confederate officer on special assignment. To keep up this new role and to make people belive in him, he attacked two bands of Mountain Boomers who had returned to the county and made several raids upon scouting parties of the Federal army.