Once the logjam is broken, a flood follows. Our mystery "Lt. Baker" is James "Jim" Franklin Baker, son of John Jackson Baker (1798-1845) and Barbary Heaton Baker (1801-1860). Both born Tennessee, both died Knoxville Mo., both buried Van Bebber Cemetery in Ray County, Mo. After the father's death, I think the family may have been split up. See below for Van Bebber connection.

Now for my guy, Lt. James F. Baker. Born Campbell County, Tennessee, May 30, 1832; Died Brownwood, Texas, May 2, 1916.

He shows up in findagrave here--

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16235432/james-franklin-baker

Findagrave has a wartime photo of him drawing a sword.

My hunch was right regarding the 6th MSM Cavalry connection, I just had the wrong James Baker. It wasn't 2nd Lt. James C. Baker Co. G -- it was 2nd Lt. James F. Baker, Company D. Enlisted from Knoxville, Missouri on Feb. 20, 1862, Resigned Dec. 20, 1862, a few weeks after a detail led by an unnamed lieutenant had his 22-man command wiped out on Nov. 3, 1862 by Quantrill and 300 of his men outside Harrisonville while en route to Sedalia. Four Feds and six teamsters killed in the initial onslaught. Note: I have established my Lt. John F. Baker was based at Sedalia with two companies at the time, while the remainder of the regiment was based at Harrisonville. Besides the initial KIA, the unnamed lieutenant was captured, along with five others in his command. The lieutenant and one other man escaped, the other four were executed. I'm looking into this to see if this was James F. Baker.

Anyway, after this, John F. Baker resigns from the 6th MSM Cavalry, and then he shows up with blood relatives and in-laws in the 51st Enrolled Missouri Militia, then the Order 107 4th Provisional Enrolled Militia, and then in the two Ray County 1865 Missouri Militias.

Following the genealogy, he has brothers and brother-in-laws in the 51EMM and 4PEM (Order 107) with him. This James Baker is related by marriage to known key players in the Anderson ambush. One of those men was Clayton Tiffin. Baker's brother Alvis was married to Tiffin's sister, Mary Elizabeth. Alvis served under Tiffin in the 1865 Missouri Militia, but, better yet, my guy, now promoted to 1st Lt. James F. Baker, did too. Making him his shirt tail brother-in-law's second in command.

James F. Baker's brother George Washington Baker shows up in Tiffin's own Order 107 company in 1864.

James F. Baker's sister Elizabeth Van Bebber was married to James H. Van Bebber, who was also in Tiffin's Order 107 company in 1864.

James F. Baker's sister Matilda Van Bebber was married to John Henry Van Bebber, who was also in Tiffin's Order 107 company in 1864.

James F. Baker's sisters Matilda and Elizabeth Van Bebber were first cousins by marriages to Major John Grimes (mother in law was Sarah Grimes Van Bebber), who was in command of the 51st Enrolled Missouri Militia on the day it ambushed Bill Anderson. Both Lt. Col. Samuel P. Cox and Major John Grimes specifically received commendations by name in the aftermath of the ambush.

I have put together more ties, but the above pretty much make the connection regarding "who the heck the Lt. --- Baker" was who was repeatedly mentioned in different dispatches, but never by first name. In the meantime, I've located a descendant of John F. Baker, and have initiated contact with him.