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42 Ten Deadly Texans
back in Brightstar, where they bought some whiskey, then
proceeded to the residence of Howell Smith, who lived near
William Foster. Neighborhood stories claimed that Smith
harbored freedmen in his home and even slept with a black
woman. 46 Whatever the motivation, Baker and sixteen
others attacked the South Carolinian’s home, according to
official government reports. Firing into the residence some
thirty times, they killed two black occupants and wounded
others in the initial attack. 47
Then the home invasion began. Baker himself attacked
Smith and stabbed Smith’s two daughters as they attempted
to defend their father. The raid ended with an unsuccessful
effort to torch the house. Baker confirmed his role in the
crime while being treated nearby by his former father-inlaw
William Foster. Smith reportedly died of his injuries. 48
Army captain N. B. McLaughlin learned of the attack
three days later, then rode with a twenty-man contingent
to the Smith house for firsthand information. He then
pursued the gang to a camp about eight miles away. The
soldiers surrounded the camp, only to learn that the gang
had departed earlier. McLaughlin returned to the Smith
neighborhood and persuaded residents to accompany him
in further pursuit of the gang.
They found a second camp about three miles away from
the first and fared better with a second attack, capturing
Meredith McAdams as well as weapons, munitions, and
provisions. McAdams was persuaded to name names,
fingering Baker, his principal lieutenant Lee Rames
(Raines), his younger brother John Howard “Seth” Rames,
John Courtney, John Kennedy, and the Nichols brothers,
John and Henry.
Buoyed by these successes, McLaughlin persuaded
Smith’s neighbors to continue the pursuit of Baker. Preston
R. Scott formed a group of irregulars for that purpose
called “Scott’s Company.” 49 This outfit meant business.
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