On Picket near Sharpsburg & Hagerstown Rd.
July 11th, 1863
Miss Annie Taylor,
Yours of the 6th is just received. You ask concerning the fall of a brother. I am very sorry that what little information I had was not sent immediately but relying on others more capable is my excuse.
He fell at (I suppose about 6 o'clock) in the extreme front-he was urging the men forward [and] about the last words he spoke before he fell were to a rebel reg't not over fifty yards in front of us. He called to them to hault [sic] & surrender. He fell, I was with him in an instant-he told me where he was wounded & asked for water[;] after taking a little water-blood began to come from his mouth & he seemed to want to say something. All I could understand was "Mum" "Mum." I do not think that he lasted over two minutes. I helped to carry him off the field & took charge of what few things he had about him, which things I afterwards turned over to Capt. [John] Yerkes.
Lieut. [George] Ludlow, Co. E of this reg't was with the body & told me he would have it sent home. So I went back to the front &, next day found that Lieut. Ludlow had taken the body to a hosp.& there left it-when two of our boys[,] Richard West [Pvt.] W[illiam] T. Gause found it & did all they could under the circumstances. Believing I have told you all as best I could, I remain very respectfully.
Your most obedient servt.
Aaron Baker,