I love old maps and this one is a copy of one from the 17th century of Virginia. The map mistakenly shows the Pacific Ocean, along with the Atlantic Ocean, common mistakes by Europeans in the early 1600s. A copy of this map was ordered by Virginia Chase Steedman, the wife of Alexander Wilbourne Weddell, an American diplomat from Richmond, Virginia. Weddell was the American ambassador to Argentina (1933-1938) and the Ambassador to Spain (1939-1942). He was also the author or editor of four books - three on the history of Virginia through portraits and photographs, and one on an introduction to Argentina.
Karla is from Baker City. It was named after Edward D. Baker, the only sitting United States Senator to be killed in military combat. He was a senator from Oregon and served as a U.S. Army colonel during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War. He was killed in the Battle of Ball's Bluff while leading a Union Army regiment. Senator Baker tried to reinforce the Union troops, but failed to ensure that there were enough boats for a river crossing, which delayed the excursion. A bottleneck occurred when only a few Union soldiers could cross slowly, making the crossing last throughout the day. The report of an unguarded Confederate camp was false and resulted in Union defeat. Senator Baker was killed about 4:30 pm on 21 October. About 223 Union soldiers were killed in the battle, with 226 wounded, and 553 were taken prisoner. Brigadier General Charles Pomeroy Stone was the commander of the Union troops, while Brigadier General Nathan George "Shanks" Evans was the commander of the Confederate troops.
General Evans was later injured in a buggy incident and was unable to return to battle, instead taking up lessor positions at the War Department. After the war he becamse a high school principal in Cokebury and in Midway. In Midway he died in 1868 and it is believed his previous buggy accident had something to do with his death at the age of 44.
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