Last updated: April 10, 2026
Person
Baker, Wiley
NPS Photo
Quick Facts
Significance:
Company I, 8th Kentucky Infantry
Place of Death:
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Date of Death:
January 2, 1863
Place of Burial:
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Cemetery Name:
Stones River National Cemetery
Wiley Baker enlisted with the Union on November 13, 1861, at Lebanon, Kentucky. He mustered in with Company I of the 8th Kentucky Infantry on January 15, 1862, as a sergeant.
The 8th Kentucky Infantry was organized in Estell Springs and Lebanon, Kentucky. They spent time in Tennessee for most of 1862 before going to Kentucky to fight in the battle of Perryville. After Perryville, they participated in Nelson’s Crossroads before returning to Nashville, Tennessee. They remained in Nashville until December 26th, when they received orders to march south towards Murfreesboro.
The 8th Kentucky arrived in Murfreesboro on December 30th and were positioned on the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad waiting to see what the next day would bring. Early on December 31st, they began to prepare to cross the Stones River at McFadden’s Ford. The 8th Kentucky took the frontline of their brigade in the McFadden Farm area. They remained in this position for the duration of the first day of fighting at the battle of Stones River as the battle raged south of their position.
On January 1, 1863, the 8th Kentucky was sent across the west fork of the Stones River and made up the front line of attack in the area. There were no attacks in that area on that day. On January 2nd, Confederate forces were made aware of the 8th KY and other Union force’s presence and began an attack at 4pm. They charged the area but were met with a wall of blue and were quickly stopped. This phase of fighting lasted approximately 45-minutes.
Sergeant Baker lost his life during this fighting on January 2, 1863, the final day of the battle of Stones River. The U.S. Registers of Death notes his cause of death as “Vulnus Sclopet,” a Greek phrase meaning “gunshot wound.” He is survived by his mother, Lucinda Baker, who was listed on his pension files.
Wiley Baker is buried in the Stones River National Cemetery in plot E-2196. He is noted as a probable ID in the cemetery.