{"id":201574,"date":"2024-06-29T13:57:37","date_gmt":"2024-06-29T18:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=201574"},"modified":"2024-07-01T06:57:29","modified_gmt":"2024-07-01T11:57:29","slug":"the-legend-of-baker-peak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/the-legend-of-baker-peak\/","title":{"rendered":"The Legend of Baker Peak"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"854\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.45.33\u202fPM-854x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-201577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.45.33\u202fPM-854x1024.jpg 854w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.45.33\u202fPM-250x300.jpg 250w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.45.33\u202fPM-125x150.jpg 125w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.45.33\u202fPM-768x920.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.45.33\u202fPM.jpg 1078w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 854px) 100vw, 854px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fort Sill, Oklahoma, was a surprisingly good place to be an Aviation Lieutenant back in the 1990s.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"yoast-reading-time__wrapper\"><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-icon=\"clock\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:-0.1em\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 8v4l3 3m6-3a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__spacer\" style=\"display:inline-block;width:1em\"><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__descriptive-text\">Estimated reading time:  <\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__reading-time\">13<\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__time-unit\"> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When I got orders to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as a young 2nd Lieutenant right out of flight training I thought there had been a mistake. At least I hoped that was the case. I couldn\u2019t find anybody in the Aviation community who had ever been there. I checked with the little old lady in tennis shoes who managed such stuff. She verified that I was indeed doomed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-turning-lemons-into-lemonade\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"the-legend-of-baker-peak\" title=\"The Legend of Baker Peak\" data-level=\"2\">Turning Lemons into Lemonade<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-baker-peak-hidden-treasure\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"the-legend-of-baker-peak\" title=\"The Legend of Baker Peak\" data-level=\"2\">Baker Peak &#8211; Hidden Treasure<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-private-baker\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"the-legend-of-baker-peak\" title=\"The Legend of Baker Peak\" data-level=\"2\">Private Baker<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-things-get-real\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"the-legend-of-baker-peak\" title=\"The Legend of Baker Peak\" data-level=\"2\">Things Get Real<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-tactical-details\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"the-legend-of-baker-peak\" title=\"The Legend of Baker Peak\" data-level=\"2\">Tactical Details<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-the-weapons-of-the-baker-peak-legend\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"the-legend-of-baker-peak\" title=\"The Legend of Baker Peak\" data-level=\"2\">The Weapons of the Baker Peak Legend<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-well-probably-not\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"the-legend-of-baker-peak\" title=\"The Legend of Baker Peak\" data-level=\"2\">Well, Probably not\u2026<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-load-on-sunday-and-shoot-all-week\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"the-legend-of-baker-peak\" title=\"The Legend of Baker Peak\" data-level=\"2\">Load on Sunday and Shoot All Week\u2026<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-springfield-upgrades\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"the-legend-of-baker-peak\" title=\"The Legend of Baker Peak\" data-level=\"2\">Springfield Upgrades<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-question-everything\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"the-legend-of-baker-peak\" title=\"The Legend of Baker Peak\" data-level=\"2\">Question Everything<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-ruminations-on-the-baker-peak-legend\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"the-legend-of-baker-peak\" title=\"The Legend of Baker Peak\" data-level=\"2\">Ruminations On the Baker Peak Legend<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-turning-lemons-into-lemonade\">Turning Lemons into Lemonade<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"669\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.46.16\u202fPM-1024x669.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-201578\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.46.16\u202fPM-1024x669.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.46.16\u202fPM-400x261.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.46.16\u202fPM-150x98.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.46.16\u202fPM-768x502.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.46.16\u202fPM-1536x1004.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.46.16\u202fPM.jpg 1974w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">I flew both the AH1 Cobra and OH58 Kiowa aircraft shown here back in the day. Flown single-pilot with the doors off, the nimble little aeroscout was like a 3-dimensional motorcycle. Yeah, I miss that a lot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Fort Sill is the home of the Field Artillery. It also turned out to be the coolest first operational assignment for which an Aviation Lieutenant might hope. For a time, I was the only Company-grade officer on post in a flight suit. That gave me credibility. Colonels and Generals who might otherwise not have scraped their boots on me were sincerely interested in my opinions. I got to fly UH-1H, OH-58A, and CH-47D aircraft while there. Lawton was good for my family as well. I worked hard, but it was a great time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the best-kept secrets thereabouts is the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Comprising some 60,000 acres of rugged granite mountains, sweeping prairies, and freshwater lakes adjacent to Fort Sill to the north, the wildlife refuge was mesmerizing. I\u2019ve traveled the world, and there were some geological formations in the Wichita Mountains that were unlike anything I have ever encountered elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-baker-peak-hidden-treasure\">Baker Peak &#8211; Hidden Treasure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"776\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.49.17\u202fPM-1024x776.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-201579\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.49.17\u202fPM-1024x776.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.49.17\u202fPM-396x300.jpg 396w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.49.17\u202fPM-150x114.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.49.17\u202fPM-768x582.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.49.17\u202fPM.jpg 1150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is a ruggedly beautiful natural space just north of Fort Sill, Oklahoma.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>22,400 of those 60,000 acres are open to the public. The rest is fenced into a Special Use Area reserved solely for wildlife. On rare occasions, the local Park Rangers will take a busload of enthusiasts behind the fence to listen to the elk bugle. You have to arrange this well in advance, and it doesn\u2019t happen very often. My wife and I were fortunate enough to pull it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"527\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.25.01\u202fPM-1024x527.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-201596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.25.01\u202fPM-1024x527.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.25.01\u202fPM-400x206.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.25.01\u202fPM-150x77.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.25.01\u202fPM-768x396.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.25.01\u202fPM-1536x791.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.25.01\u202fPM-2048x1055.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Baker Peak doesn&#8217;t look like much, but it was the site of some extraordinary drama back during the 19th century.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Tucked away in Comanche County, Oklahoma, deep inside the Special Use Area is a modest rocky feature called Baker Peak. This 2,395-foot mountain is south of Cutthroat Lake and west of Grace Mountain. It juts up otherwise forgotten and lonely from the surrounding desolate terrain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Park Rangers that day related a most fantastic tale concerning how this forlorn rock got its name. After decades of searching, the only decent Internet reference I can find is a brief but professionally produced YouTube video by a local history enthusiast. It has only 504 views at the time of this writing. The story in the video loosely parallels that told by the Rangers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-private-baker\">Private Baker<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"857\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.54.30\u202fPM-1024x857.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-201584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.54.30\u202fPM-1024x857.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.54.30\u202fPM-359x300.jpg 359w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.54.30\u202fPM-150x125.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.54.30\u202fPM-768x642.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.54.30\u202fPM-1536x1285.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.54.30\u202fPM.jpg 1542w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This is General George Armstrong Custer chillaxing with buddies prior to the debacle at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. His favorite Indian scout, Bloody Knife, is to his right. Those are indeed some hard-looking dudes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The story goes that Private Baker was an Army scout during the Indian Wars. The YouTube video claimed he was out scouting solo for Brigadier General Matthew Arbuckle. That would have set this fight in the 1830s. If I recall correctly, the Rangers\u2019 version of the tale had Baker out with a comrade in the service of Custer\u2019s Seventh Cavalry. That would have made it 1869. The site of Custer\u2019s winter bivouac was right down the street from our house on post. Considering how dangerous this place was at that time it strains credulity that a uniformed member of the Army would be out scouting alone, so I tend to subscribe to the Park Rangers\u2019 version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Baker and his buddy purportedly got separated from the main body of troops and found themselves suddenly pursued by a hostile Indian war party. The video alleged that these were likely Kiowas. According to the Rangers, both soldiers were on horseback, and they also had a mule burdened with a case of ammunition for their rifles. Unable to get back to their parent command, they retreated to what would be known as Baker Peak, the most prominent high ground in the immediate area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-things-get-real\">Things Get Real<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"739\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.53.47\u202fPM-1-1024x739.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-201585\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.53.47\u202fPM-1-1024x739.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.53.47\u202fPM-1-400x289.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.53.47\u202fPM-1-150x108.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.53.47\u202fPM-1-768x554.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.53.47\u202fPM-1-1536x1109.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.53.47\u202fPM-1.jpg 1784w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">History invariably sanitizes the horror out of human conflict. This actually looks kind of fun.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>By now the Indians were close, and the soldiers\u2019 mounts fell to hostile fire. Baker and his buddy had just enough time to salvage the spare ammo and scramble to the top of the peak before they were surrounded. Now with Indians all around, the two Army scouts fortified their position as best they could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"557\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.25.27\u202fPM-1024x557.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-201597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.25.27\u202fPM-1024x557.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.25.27\u202fPM-400x218.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.25.27\u202fPM-150x82.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.25.27\u202fPM-768x418.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.25.27\u202fPM-1536x836.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.25.27\u202fPM-2048x1114.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This is the sole reasonable approach to the summit of Baker Peak. It is eminently defensible.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Baker Peak makes for a superb defensive redoubt. There is only one reasonable approach, and that is through a deep rocky defile. These are old mountains, and most of the ravines and valleys are characterized by massive rivers of boulders.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tactical-details\">Tactical Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The legend went that Baker\u2019s buddy was hit and killed in short order, leaving PVT Baker alone and cut off on this bleak mountaintop. There he remained for three long days and nights, avoiding sleep for fear of Indians infiltrating to kill him. He was also purportedly without food or water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The story went that PVT Baker was surrounded by an Indian war party some seventy strong. I have no idea how they arrived at that number. Each time the Indians drew close he would repel them with rifle fire. The attacking Indians supposedly showered the hilltop with both arrows and bullets but were unable to reach Baker hunkered down as he was among the rocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"778\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.50.45\u202fPM-1024x778.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-201580\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.50.45\u202fPM-1024x778.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.50.45\u202fPM-395x300.jpg 395w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.50.45\u202fPM-150x114.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.50.45\u202fPM-768x583.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.50.45\u202fPM-1536x1167.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.50.45\u202fPM.jpg 1690w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The bloody war against the Native American tribes in the Southwest was perfectly suited for mounted cavalry.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Eventually, an Army officer perched upon an adjacent hilltop noticed a wisp of smoke coming from the distant peak and dispatched an armed patrol. The arrival of the Cavalrymen took the fight out of the Indians who retreated in good order. Baker was rescued, his buddy\u2019s body recovered, and the patrol returned to the 7<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;Cav laager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-weapons-of-the-baker-peak-legend\">The Weapons of the Baker Peak Legend<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.57.29\u202fPM-1024x160.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-201587\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.57.29\u202fPM-1024x160.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.57.29\u202fPM-400x63.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.57.29\u202fPM-150x23.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.57.29\u202fPM-768x120.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.57.29\u202fPM-1536x240.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.57.29\u202fPM.jpg 1840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 1835 Springfield was a flintlock musket not philosophically dissimilar to the legendary English Brown Bess. It would have been a suboptimal tool to hold off dozens of angry Indian warriors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If the YouTube version of this tale is accurate, PVT Baker would likely have been armed with a flintlock musket akin to the 1835 Springfield. This .69-caliber weapon was loaded from the muzzle via paper cartridges and weighed around ten pounds. Though these weapons could fire buck and ball loads, the most common rounds fired a single lead ball. These lead balls were intentionally left slightly undersized to accommodate the inevitable powder fouling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The effective range of the 1835 Springfield was listed as between 100 and 200 yards, though fifty yards was likely more realistic due to its smoothbore design. A determined operator could be expected to get off two to three rounds per minute of aimed fire. The 1842 Springfield was the same weapon fitted with a percussion lock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-well-probably-not\">Well, Probably not\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Defending yourself alone on a barren hilltop against 70 hostile Indians while armed with a flintlock musket is, I suppose, theoretically possible. However, it is practically improbable. Even if the terrain canalized the attackers up a single gully, I have to think these Indians could have eventually gotten to PVT Baker under those circumstances. That is another piece of the puzzle that leads me to think this exchange likely occurred after the Civil War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"761\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.01.27\u202fPM-1024x761.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-201589\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.01.27\u202fPM-1024x761.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.01.27\u202fPM-400x297.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.01.27\u202fPM-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.01.27\u202fPM-768x571.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.01.27\u202fPM.jpg 1178w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Allin conversion was an early effort to modernize Civil War-surplus breechloading muskets.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If this fight took place around 1869 then PVT Baker likely carried some sort of Civil War-surplus weapon. US Cavalry troopers were liberally equipped with Spencer repeaters during this time. Additionally, there were large numbers of First and Second Allin breechloading conversions of the Springfield family of rifled muskets. The definitive Trapdoor Springfield did not see service until 1873. The falling-block Sharps was also in common use at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-load-on-sunday-and-shoot-all-week\">Load on Sunday and Shoot All Week\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"625\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.00.06\u202fPM-1024x625.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-201588\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.00.06\u202fPM-1024x625.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.00.06\u202fPM-400x244.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.00.06\u202fPM-150x92.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.00.06\u202fPM-768x469.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.00.06\u202fPM-1536x938.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.00.06\u202fPM.jpg 1598w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Spencer repeating rifle was a tactical game changer on the Civil War battlefield.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Spencer repeater was designed in 1860 by Christopher Spencer and was the first military repeating rifle to fire metallic cartridges. The definitive Spencer carbine fed via a seven-round tubular magazine in the buttstock. While the Spencer\u2019s lever action system did feed fresh rounds into the action, the hammer had to be manually cocked for each round fired.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Compared to the muzzleloaders of the day, the Spencer really did offer a substantial enhancement in firepower. Around 200,000 copies rolled off the lines before production ceased in 1869. The Spencer offered a practical rate of fire of between 14 and 20 rounds per minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-springfield-upgrades\">Springfield Upgrades<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"548\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.01.44\u202fPM-1024x548.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-201590\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.01.44\u202fPM-1024x548.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.01.44\u202fPM-400x214.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.01.44\u202fPM-150x80.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.01.44\u202fPM-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.01.44\u202fPM.jpg 1480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">By converting existing stocks of muzzleloading rifles into tilting-block breechloaders, Uncle Sam availed himself of large quantities of modern cartridge-fed arms at reasonable cost.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Breechloading conversions of Springfield rifles typically involved machining off the near end of the barrel and replacing that portion with a pivoting chamber assembly that accepted a metallic cartridge. Early conversions included a barrel liner that sleeved the barrel down from .58 to .50 caliber, but these liners tended to loosen over time. The Model 1868 included a new-made .50-caliber barrel that resolved this problem. Roughly 50,000 copies were made chambered in .50-70 Government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.29.27\u202fPM-1024x280.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-201593\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.29.27\u202fPM-1024x280.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.29.27\u202fPM-400x109.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.29.27\u202fPM-150x41.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.29.27\u202fPM-768x210.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.29.27\u202fPM.jpg 1398w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Like the Thompson submachine gun and the FG42 paratroop rifle, the Sharps carbine is an inexplicably sexy-looking firearm.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Sharps rifle action was first patented in 1848 and saw regular improvements throughout the Civil War. The definitive cavalry model used during the Indian Wars was chambered in .50-70 Government and weighed 9.5 pounds. This single-shot weapon fed metallic cartridges and offered between 8 and 10 rounds per minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-question-everything\">Question Everything<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"563\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.51.51\u202fPM-563x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-201581\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.51.51\u202fPM-563x1024.jpg 563w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.51.51\u202fPM-165x300.jpg 165w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.51.51\u202fPM-82x150.jpg 82w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-6.51.51\u202fPM.jpg 710w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 563px) 100vw, 563px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This is the Comanche chief Quanah Parker. His influence pervades the Lawton\/Fort Sill area even today.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Internet revolutionized the way we manage information. While the Information Superhighway grants me instant access to historical details I use every week to flesh out these stories, it also grants anyone with a keyboard a voice. That results in a great deal of misinformation and outright lies. The discriminating reader should approach stories like these with skepticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/the-battle-for-the-la-fiere-bridge-i-know-of-no-better-spot-to-die\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"the-legend-of-baker-peak\" title=\"The Legend of Baker Peak\">Dr Dabbs \u2013 The Battle for the La Fi\u00e8re Bridge: \u201cI Know of No Better Spot to Die\u201d<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this case, the terrain feature was indeed named after an Army soldier named Baker. The Park Rangers who related the tale to me seemed certain of its veracity. I choose to believe it myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ruminations-on-the-baker-peak-legend\">Ruminations On the Baker Peak Legend<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"595\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.03.33\u202fPM-1024x595.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-201591\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.03.33\u202fPM-1024x595.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.03.33\u202fPM-400x232.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.03.33\u202fPM-150x87.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.03.33\u202fPM-768x446.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.03.33\u202fPM-1536x892.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-7.03.33\u202fPM.jpg 1618w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">My wife&#8217;s grandfather was one of the first paratroopers in the Army. I trained on the same jump towers he used back in the early 1940&#8217;s. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Certain places embody a profound gravitas based upon some deeply poignant event. The Airborne and Ranger Schools at Fort Benning have seen their share of pain as has BUD\/S where baby SEALs are born at Coronado in San Diego. I have been to all three of those places and found the experience to be undeniably moving. I was also struck speechless when I placed my hand in the hole that held the cross of Christ. Some places are just bigger than humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.26.01\u202fPM-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-201598\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.26.01\u202fPM-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.26.01\u202fPM-400x209.jpg 400w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.26.01\u202fPM-150x78.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.26.01\u202fPM-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.26.01\u202fPM-1536x804.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.26.01\u202fPM-2048x1072.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This rocky outcropping was the site of a life-or-death fight that spanned three grueling days.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the story of PVT Baker, we see embodied such unimaginably powerful emotions that are now all but forgotten. Baker fought for his very life for three days not knowing if help was coming or not. Failure would have meant horrible torture and death at the hands of ruthless captors. With the benefit of hindsight, I hope the rest of his life was long, warm, and peaceful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong><em>*** <a href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"clickTracking\" campaign=\"the-legend-of-baker-peak\" title=\"The Legend of Baker Peak\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica!<\/a> ***<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the best-kept secrets thereabouts is the Ouachita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Comprising some 60,000 acres of rugged granite mountains, sweeping prairies, and freshwater lakes adjacent to Fort Sill to the north, the wildlife refuge was mesmerizing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":66,"featured_media":201596,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_specdata_upc":"","_specdata_placement":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,234,257,772],"tags":[102,1046,136,2836],"featured":[],"hunt365":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-201574","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gunsamerica-authors","8":"category-columns","9":"category-historical-guns","10":"category-will-dabbs","11":"tag-feature-articles","12":"tag-historic-guns","13":"tag-springfield","14":"tag-will-dabbs"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Dr Dabbs: The Legend of Baker Peak<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Baker Peak in Oklahoma hosts rich history, where a brave lieutenant fought for his life over 150 years ago.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/the-legend-of-baker-peak\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Legend of Baker Peak\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"One of the best-kept secrets thereabouts is the Ouachita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Comprising some 60,000 acres of rugged granite mountains, sweeping prairies, and freshwater lakes adjacent to Fort Sill to the north, the wildlife refuge was mesmerizing.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/the-legend-of-baker-peak\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gun Reviews and News | GunsAmerica.com\/Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gunsamerica\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/will.dabbs.9\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-06-29T18:57:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-07-01T11:57:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-2024-04-28-at-10.25.01\u202fPM-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" 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Looking to purchase a firearm online? 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However, shooting guns and claiming it was work seemed like a pretty sweet hustle. As a result, Will serendipitously transformed an avocation into a vocation. Raised in the Mississippi Delta, Will flew UH1H, OH58A\\\/C, CH47D and AH1S helicopters operationally as an Army Aviator. He is SCUBA-qualified and has parachuted out of perfectly good airplanes at 3 o'clock in the morning. Will has summited Mount McKinley, Alaska, six times\u2026always at the controls of an Army helicopter, which is the only way sensible folk climb mountains. Will has delivered sixty babies and occasionally wrung human blood out of his socks. He is married to his high school sweetheart and has three awesome adult children. 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